Northwest Health Law Advocates presents

Advancing Patient Rights for a New Era
A Community & Continuing Legal Education Webinar
CLE Credits: 4.50 Law & Legal Credits • .75 Other Credit
October 20, 2023, from 8:50 am to 3:00 pm PDT

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Agenda*

Welcome & Introduction
Program Chair: Janet Varon, J.D., Executive Director, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Session 1: Perspectives from State Health Leaders
9:00 - 10:15 am PDT, 1.25 Law & Legal Credits

State agencies are advancing major initiatives that will establish new health care programs, protections, and rights for Washington residents. Hear from leaders at the Washington Health Care Authority, Department of Social and Health Services (Aging & Long-Term Support Administration), and Health Benefit Exchange about how their agencies are implementing recent legislative change as well as upcoming regulatory and strategic initiatives.

Faculty:

  • Leah Hole-Marshall, J.D., General Counsel and Chief Strategist, Washington Health Benefit Exchange
  • Bea Rector, M.P.A., Assistant Secretary, Aging and Long Term Support Administration, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
  • Jason McGill, J.D., Assistant Director, Medicaid Program Division, Washington Health Care Authority

Moderator: Emily Brice, J.D., Senior Attorney & Policy Advisor, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Session 2: Providers and Advocates Partnering to Address Inequities in Health Care
10:15 - 11:00 am PDT, .75 Other Credits

This session is a conversation between Dr. Leo S. Morales, Co-Director of the University of Washington Latino Center for Health, and Janet Varon, Executive Director of Northwest Health Law Advocates. They will discuss learnings from Dr. Morales' work on the disproportionate effects of COVID in Latinx communities, his observations about the inequities that prevent people from accessing care, and how health providers and lawyers can collaborate to address medical care denials, restrictions, and barriers to care that clients face, through administrative advocacy and litigation.

Faculty:

  • Leo S. Morales, M.D., Ph. D., M.P.H., Co-Director, Latino Center for Health and Assistant Dean, School of Medicine, University of Washington
  • Janet Varon, J.D., Executive Director, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Fifteen-minute break

Session 3: Addressing Challenges in Accessing Medicaid Managed Care
11:15 am - 12:30 pm PDT, 1.25 Law & Legal Credits

Managed care organizations (MCOs) provide health care to more than 85% of Washington’s Medicaid (Apple Health) enrollees, but there are questions about how accessible that care is. This session provides an overview of the legal framework that applies to MCOs, successful litigation and advocacy initiatives across the country, proposed regulations that will increase accountability, and how one state has fared after ending its Medicaid MCOs.

Faculty:

  • Elizabeth Edwards, J.D., Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program
  • David Machledt, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, National Health Law Program
  • Sheldon Toubman, J.D., Litigation Attorney, Disability Rights Connecticut
  • Dan Young, M.P.H., Policy Analyst, National Health Law Program

Moderator: Leslie Bennett, J.D., Policy and Communications Specialist, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Lunch Break 12:30 - 1:00 pm PDT

Session 4: New Regulatory Approaches to Health Care Affordability
1:00 - 2:00 pm PDT, 1.00 Law & Legal Credits

State and federal agencies are exploring innovative approaches to ensuring health care affordability. This session will include information on state initiatives like the Health Care Cost Transparency Board and efforts to end surprise medical bills. This session will also feature an update on federal activity to implement affordability initiatives in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Faculty:

  • Jane Beyer, J.D., Senior Health Policy Advisor, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
  • Evan Klein, Special Assistant, Legislative and Policy Affairs, Washington State Health Care Authority
  • Cecile Greenway, Provider Outreach, Rural Health Coordinator, Local Engagement & Administration (LEA), Office of Program Operations & Local Engagement (OPOLE), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Seattle Regional Office (SRO)

Moderator: Emily Brice, J.D., Deputy Director, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Session 5: Protecting Privacy Rights
2:00 - 3:00 pm PDT, 1.00 Law & Legal Credits

Individual privacy in health care has become a paramount concern with the transformation of  the reproductive health rights landscape over the last two years.  Privacy is also a concern for Washingtonians without federal immigration status as the state begins to offer them new opportunities to access health coverage in an effort to address long standing disparities. This session provides insight into steps Washington has taken to protect patient privacy.

  • Martha Rodriguez Lopez, J.D., Section Chief, Complex Litigation Division, Washington Attorney General’s Office
  • Joanna Donbeck, J.D., Compliance Officer, Washington Health Benefit Exchange
  • Leah Rutman, J.D., Health Care & Liberty Counsel, ACLU of Washington

Moderator: Lee Che Leong, M. Ed., Senior Policy Advocate, Northwest Health Law Advocates

Conclusion

* Agenda subject to change.

Accessibility: Please let us know of any accommodations you may need to register for or attend the program before October 8th.
By phone: voice/TTY - 206-325-6464 | By email: hafoc@nohla.org
By mail: 1301 5th Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98101-2677

Seminar Home Page | Agenda | Faculty | Registration