National Health Law Program
@nhelp
The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) protects and improves access to health care for low-income and underserved people and works to advance health equity. We believe that everyone should have access to high quality, equitable health care.
OBBBA did not eliminate Medicaid options for lawfully residing immigrant children or pregnant people. States can still receive federal funding to cover eligible immigrant children and pregnant individuals through existing coverage options.https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
Individuals who are parents, guardians, caretaker relatives, or family caregivers are generally exempt from Medicaid work requirements, but not everyone qualifies the same way. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
California’s Rural Health Transformation Program will expand primary, maternity, chronic disease, and specialty care in rural communities.. https://healthlaw.org/ongoing-maternity-care-innovations-in-california-california-rural-health-transformation-calrht-program/
Essential Health Benefits are a cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring people have access to comprehensive health coverage. https://healthlaw.org/resource/nhelp-comments-on-essential-health-benefits-ehb-rfi/
OBBBA allows states to offer an optional short-term hardship exception to Medicaid work requirements, but only if they choose to do so. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
As harmful OBBBA changes threaten Medicaid and ACA coverage, strong state advocacy is more important than ever. https://healthlaw.org/news/national-health-law-program-expands-health-law-partnership-network-with-four-new-state-based-advocacy-organizations/
CA was selected for CMS’s 10-year Transforming Maternal Health Model and awarded $17 million to strengthen Medicaid maternal care through a whole-person, evidence-based approach. https://healthlaw.org/ongoing-maternity-care-innovations-in-california-transforming-maternal-health-tmah-model/
FL fixed nearly 1M Medicaid notices after a court order. As Lynn Hearn asked: if the fix was possible then, why not sooner? NHeLP helped challenge the unlawful notices. https://floridatrib.org/2026/07/08/florida-said-it-couldnt-fix-confusing-medicaid-notices-under-court-order-it-only-took-months/
Amid growing challenges for Medicaid, California is advancing maternity care through the Birthing Care Pathway. Learn how this initiative aims to improve care for pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal enrollees. https://healthlaw.org/ongoing-maternity-care-innovations-in-california-birthing-care-pathway/
We're hiring! NHeLP is looking for a Director of Individual Giving to join our team at a moment when Medicaid faces its biggest cuts in history and our litigation and advocacy work for health care access matters more than ever. Remote. $125K–$137.6K. Apply by 7/31/26 (rolling review)
The new Interim Final Rule reinforces an important safeguard: states must first use reliable information they already have to verify Medicaid work requirement compliance or exemptions before asking enrollees for additional documentation. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
Know your contraceptive rights in Louisiana. Updated with Lift Louisiana, this toolkit explains health insurance, ACA protections, and what to do if your birth control isn't covered. https://healthlaw.org/resource/accessing-contraceptives-in-louisiana-a-toolkit-for-young-adults/
Not everyone enrolled in Medicaid expansion will be subject to OBBBA’s work requirements. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
Not all OBBBA Medicaid eligibility changes apply to every enrollee. Many only affect people covered through Medicaid expansion or “look-alike” programs, making it essential for individuals to know their eligibility category. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
Welcome to NHeLP! Cassidy Estes-Rogers is a Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program.
Welcome to NHeLP! Melissa Cunningham is the Health Care Project Coordinator at the National Health Law Program.
As states update Medicaid policies under OBBBA, key protections for eligible immigrants must remain in place. https://healthlaw.org/resource/checklist-reviewing-state-policies-implementing-obbbas-medicaid-immigrant-eligibility-changes/
Starting January 1, 2028, states must check the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File every quarter and immediately terminate Medicaid coverage for anyone identified as deceased. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
As states prepare to implement Medicaid work requirements, managed care plans can play an important role in helping eligible people keep their coverage. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
The interim final rule emphasized maximizing the use of data in determining compliance with Medicaid work requirements under OBBBA. By Elizabeth Edwards https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
NHeLP in the news! NHeLP quoted in article about social risk screening. For healthcare professionals seeking to implement social risk screening, NHeLP offers guidance on regulatory compliance. https://www.world-today-news.com/social-factors-vs-genetic-risk-in-disease-prediction/
{Webinar Today] Join NHeLP's communications team for The Fraud Myth and the Fight for Medicaid: Messaging Strategies for Advocates to learn how to effectively counter harmful narratives. Register today https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sSyFhWz-RleYFLf6jsD-OA#/registration
Before terminating Medicaid coverage, states must determine whether an enrollee qualifies for another Medicaid eligibility category. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
OBBBA does not change how Medicaid agencies verify immigration status. Applicants must continue to declare their immigration status when applying, and agencies may request additional documentation if verification cannot be completed. https://healthlaw.org/timely-tips-to-safeguard-medicaid/
Recent federal and state Medicaid cuts are threatening 15 million Californians on Medi-Cal—but we created an Advocates Guide to help everyone access the care we all deserve. Our updated Guide covers how to access benefits, community support services, policy advocacy resources, and more.
Not only is Medi-Cal the country’s largest state Medicaid program, but California has been the heart of progressive health policy for decades, producing near-universal coverage for ~15 million people. Now, due to OBBBA and state budget cuts, Medi-Cal is under threat. 🧵
OBBBA increases the complexity of eligibility for many adults. To mitigate coverage loss, states should include disability and language access planning. Learn more about disability and language access preparation with this week’s Timely Tip to Safeguard Medicaid: healthlaw.org/timely-tips-...
Join us this Thurs, June 4 for our webinar, "Inside the Medicaid Work Requirement Interim Final Rule: Exemptions Support." This webinar is the first in a series that will equip advocates with practical strategies to mitigate harm in their states. Register now: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...