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Health

The health law practice at Empire Justice Center is focused on providing support for advocates across New York State who are helping low-income clients access health care.  Empire Justice provides technical assistance and training, takes referrals of complex cases, engages in policy advocacy, and, when necessary, files class action lawsuits to tackle systemic barriers to accessing health care.

On this page, under the topics listed on the left, you will find articles on health care issues written for the Legal Services Journal and the Disability Journal, as well as legislative memos and comments on state and federal regulation.  We also encourage you to visit NYHealthAccess, a relatively new website co-sponsored by Empire Justice, the Legal Aid Society of New York City, and Selfhelp, Inc.  NYHealthAccess will provide you with a comprehensive listing of advocacy materials on New York’s public health insurance programs.


ARTICLES

ADVANCE COPY OF HEALTH LAW JOURNAL ARTICLE ON THE USE OF LOCAL LAWS TO PREVENT LEAD POISONING AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD UNTIL JUNE 5
The July 2013 issue of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law will include a important study of how local laws have been used across the country to fill gaps in state and federal laws intended to protect children from being poisoned by lead. Read More

Final Health Budget Makes Major Changes to Medicaid
Analysis of changes to New York's Medicaid program enacted through the 2013-14 state budget. Read More


IN THE NEWS

Health insurance exchanges info is trickling in
The exchanges, which are meant to expand coverage to people who’ve been shut out of insurance because of cost or access, are a cornerstone of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Read More


Report Presents “Immigrant Eligibility Crosswalk” and Urges Continued Advances in Immigrant Access to Health Care as NY Implements Insurance Exchange
Today, Empire Justice Center released a report that chronicles immigrant access to health care in New York and zeros in on significant advancements to come with the new State Health Insurance Exchange. Read More


POLICY ADVOCACY

Comments from the Coalition to Protect Dual Eligibles on the Expansion of New York's FIDA Demonstration
Comments on New York's proposed addendum to the demonstration for dually eligible beneficiaries. Read More


Empire Justice Memo of Opposition: Don’t Require Unproven and Burdensome Biometric ID Program for Medicaid
This bill, if enacted, would require the Department of Health to implement a program requiring the use of biometric technology by clinics, pharmacies and hospitals participating in New York’s Medicaid program to identify Medicaid recipients at the point of being seen by clinical staff and again upon completion of care or services. Read More



PUBLICATIONS

New York’s Exchange Portal: A Gateway to Coverage for Immigrants
Health Insurance Exchanges have the potential to eliminate many existing barriers to health insurance coverage for low-income workers facing reductions in salaries and benefits. Immigrant families, whose incomes tend to be lower to begin with, have been particularly hard hit by escalating health care costs. National figures from 2010 indicate that 75% of workers in noncitizen families were in traditional blue collar jobs, as compared to 60% of workers from citizen families. The average median annual income for noncitizens was $25,000, roughly half the amount for citizen households. In New York, home to 4.3 million immigrants, noncitizens are over three times as likely as citizens to lack health insurance. Read More

 

Holes in the Safety Net: Access to Charity Care on Long Island
Our latest report finds that almost one-half of the 23 hospitals surveyed failed to provide family members of seriously ill, uninsured patients with the information they needed to get financial assistance in advance of medical emergencies. Read More

 

NEWSLETTERS

Policy Matters - February 2013
As we draft this issue of Policy Matters, we are about to begin the sprint to a final state budget - possibly earlier than ever before. As you may have guessed, much of our work since our last email has been focused on budget issues. However, as you can see, we have other irons on the fire as well! Read More


TRAININGS AND EVENTS

Helping Your Patients Access Medicaid
This training is designed for staff at community health centers across New York, but will be useful for staff at any community based organization that helps clients access health care services. Participants will learn about the public health care programs available to clinic patients, and strategies that have proven successful for overcoming common barriers to eligibility - including spend down, spousal refusal and pooled trusts. Read More

Public Assistance Issues for Teens and Young Adults / Housing Advocacy to Prevent Children from Languishing in Foster Care
This presentation will address some of the benefits and assistance available to teenagers, young adults and young families, approximately ages 16-22. Benefit areas covered will include cash assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid and housing resources for teens and young adults who are living on their own or aging out of foster care. Read More