National Health Law Program
AbbreviationNHeLP
Formation1969
Founded atLos Angeles, CA
TypeNonprofit organization
PurposeHealth and civil rights advocacy
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Location
Executive Director
Elizabeth G. Taylor
Revenue (2019)
$11,430,352
Websitehttps://www.healthlaw.org

The National Health Law Program is a nonprofit legal and policy advocacy organization founded in Los Angeles, CA in 1969. The mission of the organization is to protect and advance the health and civil rights of low-income and undeserved individuals and families in the United States.[1] The organization addresses these rights through litigation, policy advocacy and technical assistance to state partners.

History

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The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) was initially established as a backup legal center by Ruth & Milton Roemer at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1969.[1] The program (then named The National Legal Program on Health Problems of the Poor) was funded through a grant from the federal Office of Economic Opportunity, and was charged with providing legal research, teaching and training for lawyers interested in public interest law.[2] Over its history, the organization has added active offices in Washington D.C. and Chapel Hill, NC, as well as their founding location in California.

Activities

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NHeLP employs attorneys with experience in health law and civil rights areas. The organization's attorneys litigate in partnership with state health advocacy groups primarily on behalf of low-income, disabled or other underserved clients.[3] Specialty areas include non-discrimination cases, Medicaid and Medicare eligibility, mental health, disability law and reproductive health. Additionally, NHeLP secures support from pro bono partners who assist with litigation.[4] The organization's Amicus Project identifies national cases of interest in health law to submit amicus curiae briefs, to express and advocate for certain legal arguments in outside cases.

Clinton Health Care Reform Effort

During the first term of President Bill Clinton, NHeLP advocated for the administration's proposal to reform the U.S. health care system.[5] The proposal, which among other things would have extended health coverage to low-income Americans, ultimately did not gain sufficient support in the 103rd United States Congress to become law.[6]

Affordable Care Act

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NHeLP supported passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.[7] The organization worked with the Obama administration and the 111th Congress to provide input on the law, notably its' non-discrimination provisions and those that pertain to Medicaid.[8][9] Since the law's passage, the organization has also engaged in various advocacy and legal efforts to maintain or further extend the law. For example, NHeLP has filed amicus curiae briefs arguing to uphold the ACA in each of the major Supreme Court challenges since passage: National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)[10], King v. Burwell (2015)[11] and California v. Texas (2021)[12][13]

Civil Rights and Cultural Competency in Health Care

NHeLP has conducted research on standards for ensuring appropriate linguistic and cultural competency standards in healthcare.[14] NHeLP's review of state law requirements and Medicaid managed care contract language at the state level was referenced by the federal HHS Office of Minority Health during the development of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS Standards).[15][16] The standards were first released in 2000, with NHeLP among several partners helping to update them in 2010.[16][17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About Us". The National Health Law Program. Archived from the original on 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  2. ^ Levin, Maya. "1969 - Founding the National Health Law Program". National Health Law Program. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  3. ^ Ramer, Holly (2021-04-29). "New Hampshire residents sue over Medicaid work requirements". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  4. ^ "UNC School of Law, Pro Bono Program" (PDF). UNC School of Law. Retrieved 2021-11-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Morgan, Dan (1994-01-30). "Offshoot of War on Poverty Led Reform Effort". The Washington Post. p. A18. Retrieved 2023-01-16 – via Proquest.
  6. ^ Pear, Robert (1993-09-23). "CLINTON'S HEALTH PLAN: What the States Must Do; States Are Wary Partners In President's Big Venture". The New York Times. p. A23. Retrieved 2023-01-16 – via Proquest.
  7. ^ Levin, Maya. "2010 - The Affordable Care Act". National Health Law Program. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  8. ^ "White House Health Care Reform Meeting | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2021-11-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ Sanger-Katz, Margot; Goodnough, Abby (2015-09-03). "Health Care Rules Proposed to Shield Transgender Patients From Bias". The New York Times. pp. A12. Retrieved 2023-01-16 – via Proquest.
  10. ^ "Amicus: National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius and Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Supreme Court of the United States". National Health Law Program. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2021-09-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Perkins, Jane. "Amicus Brief of AARP and NHeLP in King v. Burwell, U.S. Supreme Court". National Health Law Program. Retrieved 2021-09-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Search - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  13. ^ Perkins, Jane; Somers, Sarah. "Amicus: California v. Texas, U.S. Supreme Court". National Health Law Program. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  14. ^ Youdelman, Mara K. (2008-03-01). "The Medical Tongue: U.S. Laws And Policies On Language Access". Health Affairs. 27 (2): 424–433. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.27.2.424. ISSN 0278-2715.
  15. ^ "Final Report - National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care" (PDF). HHS Office of Minority Health. 2001-03-01. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  16. ^ a b "National CLAS Standards - The Office of Minority Health". minorityhealth.hhs.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  17. ^ "Health Equity Timeline". Office of Minority Health - Think Cultural Health. Retrieved 2021-11-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)