All across the country, lawmakers are faced with grim state budget shortfalls that will mean devastating cuts to the social safety net. As a result of the national recession, Washington state faces one of the worst economic downturns in over 80 years. In the past two years lawmakers have balanced the state budget by cuttingContinue reading “Washington CAN! Leads 800 People in Demanding an Equitable State Budget”
Tag Archives: health care
Main Street Alliance Leader Testifies Against Rollback of Federal Health Law
On January 18, New Jersey Main Street Alliance leader Odette Cohen, a pediatrician and owner of Son Light Pediatrics in Willingboro, NJ jumped on a train down to Washington, DC to testify at a hearing on the proposed rollback of the Affordable Care Act. “The health care law throws a series of lifelines to smallContinue reading “Main Street Alliance Leader Testifies Against Rollback of Federal Health Law”
Facing Race: 2010 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity (Washington)
This report card assesses the racial impacts of decisions made in the 2010 Washington legislative session, looking at a range of policy areas, from economic justice to health to civil rights and more. A collaborative effort of many racial justice organizations, the report collectively and individually grades Washington’s legislators on their votes that either promotedContinue reading “Facing Race: 2010 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity (Washington)”
A Victory for Health Care Implementation
Last week, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) finalized their recommendations to President Obama on how to implement a critical piece of health care reform: medical loss rations. Their recommendation is a significant victory because, according to the Washington Post, it largely favors “the views of consumer advocates over those advanced by the insuranceContinue reading “A Victory for Health Care Implementation”
Health Rights Organizing Project Members Work with HHS to Ensure Language Access
On Tuesday, September 14, NWFCO organized a meeting in Washington, D.C. with the Department of Health of Human Services to discuss the importance of language access in health care. Members from NWFCO and several organizations from the Health Rights Organizing Project, including Make the Road New York, The Community Service Society of New York, TheContinue reading “Health Rights Organizing Project Members Work with HHS to Ensure Language Access”
Insurance Companies to Stop Covering Kids October 1st
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, recently announced a national coalition dedicated to enrolling five million children in Medicaid and CHIP within five years. “Nothing is more important to our future than the health of our children. No child should have to skip a doctor’s appointment or goContinue reading “Insurance Companies to Stop Covering Kids October 1st”
Native Health Underfunded and Promises Unfulfilled: The Importance of Investing in the Indian Health Service
“If the Indian Health Service was fully funded, we would be able to implement some of the programs we can’t currently offer. And I believe there would be a direct correlation between increased funding and improved health status for Native people.” –Dr. Donna Polk-Primm, CEO, Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition
Opening the Door
The Importance of Language and Literacy Access under Health Reform The primary goal of health care reform is to reduce uninsured rates and thereby ensure access to quality health care for the approximately 46.3 million currently uninsured. This population consists disproportionately of people of color, immigrants and low-income people.
Main Street Alliance Leaders Plant Flag for Small Business Values in Washington, D.C.
In late July, small business owners from all across the country – from Maine to Montana, Louisiana to North Dakota – left their homes and their businesses on a mission: to carry a message about small business values direct from their Main Streets back home all the way to Washington, D.C. It was the “America’sContinue reading “Main Street Alliance Leaders Plant Flag for Small Business Values in Washington, D.C.”
Rules of the Road
Regulating Insurance Companies Is a Critical Component of Health Reform Much remains to be decided about the rules of health reform. Accordingly, elected officials and policymakers on both the state and federal level should promote quality coverage and ensure the strongest possible oversight of the health insurance industry, thereby protecting the health and financial wellbeingContinue reading “Rules of the Road”