Did you know that when low-income seniors and people with disabilities in Washington become eligible for Medicare, many lose access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare? Before adults qualify for Medicare, they may qualify for Affordable Care Act programs, including the Medicaid Expansion and subsidized Health Benefit Exchange health insurance plans. The ACA Medicaid program allows income...
Category: News
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...