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NoHLA honors Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and prepares for health care impact
As we collectively mourn the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we at NoHLA are reflecting on her role as a fierce champion for equity, justice, and human compassion. As a lawyer and a jurist, her trailblazing work has advanced the causes of access to health care, reproductive rights, civil rights including for […]
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Dear Legislators: Invest, don’t cut!
In this time of unprecedented challenges, health disparities have been magnified and many Washington residents still do not have access to affordable health care. Yet discussions are underway about budget cuts. Recently, in response to the forecasted revenue shortfalls, state agencies including the Health Care Authority participated in an exercise to project budget cuts of […]
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Senate pandemic relief bill fails to make urgently needed investments in health care to save lives
As COVID infections surge, more than 1500 people in Washington state have died from the disease and over a million residents have filed for unemployment, a high percentage of us need help to get through this tough time and take care of our families. Yet rather than propose a package commensurate with the scale of […]
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What just happened? A federal flurry of activity on non-discrimination protections
The Trump Administration has long been working to undermine the Affordable Care Act, including the strong regulations implementing its non-discrimination protections in ACA Section 1557. This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services chose to officially rollback these protections for people historically subjected to discrimination, in the midst of a global pandemic disproportionately […]
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Racism is a public health crisis
To achieve health equity, we must address racism and address the associated health disparities that are now greatly magnified by COVID-19. NoHLA, along with many others in the health care, advocacy, and public health communities, demands action to address racism and related disparities as they affect health. Here are a few of the groups and […]
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Health care repeal lawsuit briefing begins in Supreme Court
In the middle of a global pandemic, the federal administration is still trying to take down the Affordable Care Act, wasting time and money on a lawsuit designed to collapse our health care system. It’s hard for us to imagine, too. Here is the latest on what is happening, provided by Community Catalyst: The Health […]
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Supreme Court decision: DACA still alive!
We are thrilled to see the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this month that maintained the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Trump Administration did not follow proper legal procedures in terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2017. This decision means […]
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Welcoming Natalie McCarthy, NoHLA summer extern!
NoHLA welcomes our 2020 summer Extern, Natalie McCarthy. Natalie is from Tacoma, WA and is a third year law student at Seattle University. Natalie’s interest in health care began early when she lost her sight to brain cancer at age 10 and as a result, aspired to become an advocate for individuals with disabilities. Natalie […]
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COVID-19 magnifies racial and ethnic disparities
In Washington State, as in the U.S. generally, the pandemic does not affect all residents equally. State data reveal that Hispanic (Latinx) residents make up 35% of COVID-19 cases although they comprise only 13% of the state population. In King County, residents who are Hispanic, Black, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander suffer significantly more COVID-19 infections […]
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COVID-related HEROES Act would support Medicaid and the health care safety net; NoHLA letter asks Congress to further address health equity
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion omnibus measure that addresses health care and economic needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation is now in the Senate, where it is unlikely to pass in its current form. The pandemic has made clear that the health and well-being […]
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