Northwest Health Law Advocates

Provided over 40 trainings & presentations, numerous publications, electronic newsletters & social media postings on health coverage rights, affordability, the impact of health policy changes & legal developments including health insurance, reproductive health rights, Medicaid and public health benefits, Washington Health Benefit Exchange, charity care & immigrant health. Many were widely distributed, reaching thousands of advocates, lawyers, health providers, & individuals. Held full-day Continuing Legal Education seminar, "Advancing Patient Rights for a New Era" & screened a film on American hospitals. Revised & drafted publications for Washington LawHelp, Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, Washington Fair Health Prices website, & NoHLA website. Provided regular legislative updates on Washington health care access legislation to community.... In addition provided an estimated 140 consultations for legal services & private attorneys, providers, community advocates & law students on health programs & access to care.

Analyzed legal and policy issues and provided input to federal and state governments, courts and policymakers on proposed rules, procedures, legislation, and budget related to healthcare access, equity, and affordability in public programs and private insurance, including: state premium assistance to improve affordability of individual health coverage; strengthening state's public option; health coverage equity for immigrants; the impact of immigration rules on access to health care; landscape scan of barriers to accessing care for Spanish-speaking immigrants; impact of federal health care proposals on Washington; surprise balance billing by ground ambulances; access to reproductive health; long-term care eligibility; coverage of services in Medicaid; denials of medically necessary care; children's continuous health coverage; and maintaining the state health care spending benchmark. Mentored other advocates in policy advocacy. Filed amicus curiae brief in case challenging denial of mental health therapy.

Advocated with agencies, focusing on improved and affordable coverage and care for low-income, vulnerable individuals, women, and immigrants, championing: more affordability aid for low-income Medicare enrollees, improved process for post-pandemic reviews of enrollees' Medicaid eligibility; language access in insurance and public programs, and stronger charity care rules. Led stakeholder groups and worked with agencies to address the impact of federal and state laws on low-income populations and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.