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2022 Washington State Legislative Session: Update #1
legislative session: the February 3rd deadline for bills to move out of policy committees in the chamber of origin, and the February 7th deadline to move out of fiscal committees. Bills that are still alive must now survive a floor vote in the chamber of origin by February 15. Some bills have already passed one chamber and moved to the policy committee in the other chamber. The only exceptions from these deadlines are bills deemed “necessary to implement the budget” (NTIB), which could re-emerge later in session.
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NoHLA’s 2022 legislative preview
Nearly two years into the pandemic, many Washingtonians still don’t have access to affordable health coverage and care. Despite seismic shifts in our health care system, too many Washington residents lack health care access due to historical and ongoing inequities related to income, immigration status, disability status, race/ethnicity, age, and gender/sexual identity. On a state […]
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NoHLA welcomes our new staff, Stephanie Dib Wietstruck and Lee Che P. Leong!
We are thrilled to welcome Stephanie Dib Wietstruck and Lee Che Leong to NoHLA! Stephanie Dib Wietstruck joined NoHLA in June 2021 as NoHLA’s Health Equity Advocate. She is pursuing a Health Law Master’s degree at the University of Washington. Since she emigrated to the United States, she has developed a multicultural approach in addressing […]
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2021 State Legislative Session Recap: Big Wins for Health Equity!
Washington’s legislative session has come to a close, and what a session it was! We started off the session with the possibility of a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall and deep cuts to our health safety net, all in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. Thanks to fierce advocacy on the state and national front, the […]
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TAKE ACTION: Push Congress for health care relief NOW!
This week, Congress is considering an “American Rescue Plan” COVID-19 relief package that includes critical health protections during the pandemic. For the first time in a decade, Congress has the opportunity to strengthen the reforms of the Affordable Care Act by lowering the cost of coverage for those struggling the most. NoHLA is calling on Congress to move full speed […]
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The year ahead: NoHLA’s fight for health justice in 2021
As 2020 comes to a close, NoHLA and our partners are in high gear, finalizing our policy priorities for 2021. This year, we expect to defend against potential cuts to the health safety net and work to expand affordable coverage for Washington residents who are immigrants, post-partum, or buying individual coverage on their own. To […]
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New data confirms that immigrants face stark inequities in Washington State
This past fall, El Centro de La Raza, the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), and NoHLA launched the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign, with support from the ACLU of WA. NoHLA is a proud partner in this campaign, which aims to address health inequities experienced by the immigrant community: An estimated 46% of undocumented individuals […]
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The COVID-19 vaccine problem no one is talking about…yet
Hope is on the horizon as the first COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Washington State. The Washington State Department of Health has released a carefully-considered phased distribution plan, with Phase 1a already underway. High-risk first responders, medical workers, and elders in nursing facilities are now beginning to receive the vaccine. And just this week, a second […]
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So you’re getting the COVID-19 vaccine. What will it cost?
For Washington residents who have made it through the hurdle of COVID-19 vaccine prioritization, there may be another question looming: what will it cost? The good news is that under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the CARES Act, and related federal guidance, the vaccine should be available at no charge to all Washington residents. […]
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Giving thanks for hope in 2021
As Thanksgiving approaches, NoHLA is reflecting on the meaning of the holiday. For some, Thanksgiving is a moment to celebrate blessings in preparation for the winter months ahead. For others, Thanksgiving is a somber day of remembrance– a time to acknowledge and honor that we live and work on the unceded ancestral lands of the […]
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