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ACA in jeopardy again!
Adapted from a summary by the National Health Law Program Last Friday, Judge Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas ruled that the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. He went even further, striking down the entire ACA because, he opined, the mandate was not “severable” from the rest of the […]
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New legislators ran on health care
In the 2018 elections, Washington voters elected Dr. Kim Schrier, a pediatrician championing quality health care as a fundamental human right, to the U.S. House of Representatives, District 8. At the state level, we sent 5 new Democrats to the State Senate and 12 new Democrats to the State House, increasing Democratic majorities in both […]
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Public Charge campaign continues after inspiring 200K+ comments
NoHLA is an active participant in Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF), an impressive national campaign comprised of thousands of advocates across the country that helped lead the charge against the administration’s harmful Public Charge proposal. When the public comment period for the proposed rule closed on December 10, over 216,000 comments were delivered to the Department […]
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WA Health Care Access Alliance honors NoHLA’s Executive Director
NoHLA Executive Director Janet Varon was honored to receive the 2018 Marcia Howery Award from the Washington Healthcare Access Alliance, “in recognition of demonstrated, long term commitment and contribution to healthcare access serving Washington’s vulnerable patients.” WHAA is the association of free clinics throughout the state. Marcia Howery was a pioneering free clinic director, mentor, and advocate who worked […]
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The Clock is Ticking…Only 39 Days Remaining in Public Charge Comment Period
Under the proposed public charge rules, one of the groups who may be prevented from receiving a green card is individuals with HIV/AIDS. This could potentially worsen the HIV/AIDS epidemic by forcing people living with the condition to forego treatment. The two largest federal funding sources for healthcare for people living with HIV/AIDS are Medicare […]
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The Next Target of Discriminatory Administration Rules: Transgender People
An estimated 1.4 million transgender individuals in the U.S. could be impacted by the Trump Administration’s latest announcement that it wants to narrowly define gender based on genitalia at birth. This short-sighted idea has yet to be formally proposed; it is being considered as the Department of Health and Human Services works to establish a […]
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Further Stripping Down of Obamacare
Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) once provided hopeful innovation waiver opportunity to progressive states, but now serves as another tool for the Trump Administration to undermine the ACA. New guidance from the Department of Health & Human Services and the Department of Treasury encourages use of private insurance, association plans and short-term […]
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Thanks and Farewell – A Joint Message
From NoHLA: About that staffing transition…NoHLA is indebted to Molly Firth, a talented health policy advocate who has served as our Communications consultant for the past year. As she moves on to new opportunities, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation for all she’s done to get critical information out to you, our readers, and […]
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Counting Down: 60 Days to Submit Comments on Public Charge Proposal
The Trump administration is proposing rules designed to impede and reduce legal immigration while threatening immigrants who use health care, nutrition, and housing benefits that they qualify for. These “public charge” proposed rules were published in the Federal Register yesterday, starting the clock on a 60-day comment period. The rules signal a shift in legal […]
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A New Supreme Takes His Seat
Despite concerns about his stances on health care, presidential power, and women’s and LGBT rights, his temperament, and sexual assault allegations against him, newly-sworn in Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was seated this week. Unfortunately, sexual assault survivors have been re-traumatized by the events of recent weeks. The confirmation process raised many concerns about the […]
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