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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

For Washington residents who have made it through the hurdle of COVID-19 vaccine prioritization, there may be another question looming: what will it cost? The good news is that under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the CARES Act, and related federal guidance, the vaccine should be available at no charge to all Washington residents....

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...

Here at NoHLA, we are drawing up our holiday wish list for policymakers at the federal and state level. Here are our top asks this year: 1. Preserve health reform at the Supreme Court On November 10th, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could affect the health coverage of almost every...

As the pandemic approaches another potential spike, it’s more important than ever for Washington residents to access COVID-19 testing and treatment when necessary without fear of unexpected medical bills. Please continue to spread the word about protections for Washington State residents against medical bills for COVID-19 testing and treatment: For state-regulated (“fully insured”) private health...

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how immigrants in Washington State face inequitable access to critical health and safety net programs. As a first step in improving equity and basic economic security for immigrants, there are new funds available to help Washington State residents who don’t qualify for other COVID-19 relief programs due to their immigration...