Category: News Posts

A recent Commonwealth Fund analysis found that the Affordable Care Act coverage gains are beginning to recede, largely due to actions taken by the Administration and Congress in the past year. Four million working age adults have lost coverage since 2016. The increase in the uninsured rate was higher for people earning less than 250%...

Earlier this year, the Administration announced proposed changes to the federal Title X family planning program to focus on abstinence and natural family planning methods. But new lawsuits seek to protect this funding, which benefits millions of low-income patients in need of comprehensive sexual health services. The new focus on abstinence is another hit to...

Maternal mortality is on the rise in the United States – a shocking trend that needs to be addressed. Two women die each day during or related to childbirth and there are 50,000 “near misses” each year – most of which are preventable. There are also staggering health disparities in maternal mortality, primarily for African...

In 2016, federal rules were adopted to enforce the non-discrimination section of the Affordable Care Act. The rules prohibit doctors, hospitals and insurers from discriminating against transgender individuals. Provisions defining “sex” discrimination as including discrimination based on gender identity and termination of pregnancy were struck down in a nationwide injunction by a federal judge before...

We recently shared information about a gravely concerning proposed rule that would threaten immigrants’ access to critical benefits. The proposed rule is still under review at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and has not yet been published. But many are concerned. On Tuesday, At NoHLA’s request, Washington’s Governor Inslee was the first Governor...

Two federal judges have ruled against funding cuts to the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in the past week. In the most recent ruling with national implications, a Spokane judge ruled that the federal government could not cut the grant to The most recent ruling was in favor of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and...

Eric González Alfaro is one of our newer board members, joining the NoHLA Board last fall. He had collaborated with Executive Director Janet Varon and admired her thoughtful and inclusive nature of always working to improve health systems from a holistic, consumer-centric standpoint. Eric was grounded by his upbringing – he was raised by undocumented...