Congress finally passed an omnibus budget bill last week that President Trump signed last Friday to narrowly avert another government shutdown. Many were hopeful that the last “must-pass” legislation before the midterm elections would include health care marketplace stabilization and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but agreement was unattainable. The final deficit-increasing...

This legislative session, we worked with legislators and other advocates to bolster reproductive health access laws to make up for gaps created at the federal level, as described in our last newsletter. Thanks to these efforts, Washington insurers are prevented from limiting access to reproductive health care. NoHLA Staff Attorney Huma Zarif co-authored a blog...

The Administration’s proposed rules allowing health care providers to refuse medical care due to religious or moral objections are gravely concerning. Comments were due this week and NoHLA joined others asking for the rule to be entirely rescinded. The rules will result in immediate harm, especially for women, people of color, people living with disabilities, poor and...

Disability Rights Washington’s video and media advocacy program, Rooted in Rights, produced a new video to combat the dangerous narratives surrounding mental health and gun violence. This is a great reminder that we can all be more mindful about how we talk about people living with mental illness.

Amazon is tripling the donation amount to 1.5% when customers make their first eligible smile.amazon.com purchase thru March 31. Select Northwest Health Law Advocates as your supported charity, and then shop as normal (or splurge!), knowing that 1.5% of the purchase will help us promote health justice! After this week, please continue to support us when you shop...

Last Thursday, the Legislature adjourned after a fast and furious 60-day legislative session. Many bills passed and await Governor Inslee’s signature. Even more bills failed to make it through the arduous legislative process. NoHLA applauds the Legislature’s passage of the Reproductive Parity Act (SB 6219), a state preventive health services coverage bill (HB 1523), improvements...

Republicans have been undermining the Affordable Care Act (ACA) every which way in the past year. Many of their efforts target women. Since last week included International Women’s Day, we wanted to emphasize the threats to women’s health. The ACA created many protections that are at risk as the Republicans introduce and enact new policies....

Amazon is tripling the donation amount to 1.5% when customers make their first eligible smile.amazon.com purchase from March 12 – 31. Select Northwest Health Law Advocates as your supported charity, and then shop as normal (or splurge!), knowing that 1.5% of the purchase will help us promote health justice!

Congress is bickering over health care again as they race toward a March 23 deadline to pass a government spending bill and avoid another government shutdown. The final budget may include funding for reinsurance and cost-sharing reductions intended to stabilize the individual insurance market. Negotiations continue with mixed messages from the White House, Republicans pushing...

As the weeks pass, fewer bills continue through the legislative process and budget proposals garner increased attention. A recent uplifting revenue forecast provides budget writers an additional $647 million to work with. In our new legislative update, we follow the progress of health care access legislation still alive as we near the deadline for bills...