Caring Causes - National Health Law Program Expansion

The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) today announced the addition of four new Health Law Partnerships (HLPs), expanding its nationwide network of state-based legal advocacy organizations working to protect and improve access to health care for low-income and underserved communities.   The four new Health Law Partners are: Georgia Legal Services Program Minnesota Disability Law Center Montana Legal Services Association Pennsylvania Health Law Project For more than 55 years, NHeLP has served as a vital resource, partner, and brain trust for state-based advocates and legal aid organizations working to improve access to health care for low-income people. Through the Health Law Partnership program, NHeLP provides funding and technical support to state-based organizations, empowering partners to dedicate significant time and resources to collaborative advocacy, enforcement, and litigation efforts tailored to their states' unique needs.   With these additions, NHeLP now maintains Health Law Partnerships with highly experienced legal advocacy organizations in 26 states across the country, representing more than half of all states and strengthening the organization's ability to respond to emerging threats to health care access through coordinated advocacy, enforcement, and litigation.   Together, the National Health Law Program and its partners create and execute strategies to address existing and emerging obstacles to health care access. NHeLP also works with partners to build and strengthen their capacity to engage in new and innovative advocacy projects that protect the rights of Medicaid enrollees and other underserved communities.   The expansion comes at a critical moment for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage as states begin implementing the harmful provisions of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The law imposes new work requirements, more frequent and burdensome eligibility redeterminations, increased cost-sharing requirements, restrictions on trusted family planning providers, reductions in federal support to states through provider tax restrictions, the exclusion of many immigrants from coverage, and rollbacks that threaten access to essential services, including gender-affirming care and sexual and reproductive health care. About the National Health Law Program The National Health Law Program protects and improves access to health care for low-income and underserved people and works to advance health equity. Through litigation, policy advocacy, education, and partnerships, NHeLP works to enforce health care and civil rights laws and advance equitable access to health care. Learn more at www.healthlaw.org.   About Georgia Legal Services Program Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal services to Georgians with low incomes across 154 of the state's 159 counties. Through its network of regional offices, GLSP helps clients address critical legal issues involving health care, public benefits, housing, education, family stability, and economic security. Learn more at www.glsp.org.   About Minnesota Disability Law Center The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC), a project of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, is Minnesota's federally designated Protection and Advocacy organization for people with disabilities. MDLC provides free legal advocacy and representation to protect the rights of people with disabilities and promote access, inclusion, self-determination, and community integration throughout Minnesota. Learn more at www.mndlc.org.   About Montana Legal Services Association Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) is a nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting and enhancing the civil legal rights of Montanans living in poverty. For more than 60 years, MLSA has provided free civil legal assistance to low-income people in all 56 Montana counties and on every Tribal reservation in the state, while working to advance systemic change and expand access to justice. Learn more at www.mtlsa.org.   About Pennsylvania Health Law Project The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) is a nonprofit legal services organization dedicated to helping people in need get the health care they deserve. Through free legal services, education, and policy advocacy, PHLP works to protect and advance access to health care for Pennsylvanians with low incomes, older adults, and people with disabilities. Learn more at www.phlp.org.

About NHeLP Founded in 1969, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) protects and advances the health rights of low-income and underserved individuals and families. NHeLP advocates, educates and litigates at the federal and state levels. Our lawyers and policy analysts stand up for the rights of the millions of people who struggle to access affordable, quality health care. We are guided by the belief—a challenge—that each generation should live better than the last.