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 Coast Salish, including the Duwamish people past and present. This duality is central to the American experience: we are at once a nation of abundance and deep inequity. 

Nowhere is this duality more apparent than the American health care system. Just eight months into the pandemic, the innovation in our health care sector has brought a vaccine within reach. But the pandemic has also laid bare the disparities that plague us: recent Department of Health data on confirmed COVID-19 cases shows that compared to white residents, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander residents have death rates that are seven times higher. American Indian and Alaska Natives and Hispanic residents have death rates that are four times higher, and Black residents have death rates that are twice as high. For too many families of color in our state, there will be no celebration at this year’s Thanksgiving table. And all of us will celebrate in a different way this year, as we heed the Governor’s call to maintain distance from families and friends to combat the virus’ third wave. 

But there is hope on the horizon for 2021. There are early signs that the Supreme Court may preserve at least the core of the Affordable Care Act. A new federal Administration is preparing ideas to expand health access. And there is a growing movement in Washington State to face tough budget times with bold action, investing in progressive revenue to protect the health safety net and address health disparities. Read more in our other post, including ways to support NoHLA’s advocacy in whatever way meets your own budget this year. 

–Emily Brice, NoHLA Senior Attorney & Policy Advisor