Health Advocate Blog

Analysis and Commentary

March 24, 2020
An Uphill Battle: California’s Efforts to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
Alicia Emanuel
These are unprecedented times. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic.…
March 18, 2020
Ensuring People Have Access to Prescription Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Wayne Turner and Abigail Coursolle
As most jurisdictions across the U.S. are now subject to some kind of “stay at home” order due to…
March 12, 2020
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act: Another Potential Casualty of Efforts to Repeal the ACA
Sarah Somers
This blog was originally written for The Network for Public Health LawAs most health policy observers know, the Affordable…
March 12, 2020
The Administration’s Assault on the ACA Undermining Coronavirus Efforts
Wayne Turner and Héctor Hernández-Delgado
A recent announcement by Vice President Pence added to the confusion surrounding the administration’s response to the coronavirus epidemic.…
March 5, 2020
Medicaid Block Grants are Cuts to Medicaid, Plain and Simple
Elizabeth G. Taylor
Despite the clear ruling from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals that the purpose of the Medicaid statute is…
February 28, 2020
Maternal Mental Health Care is Critical to Reducing Racial Disparities
Alexis Robles-Fradet and Abbi Coursolle
Depression in pregnant women has increased by seven times from 2000 to 2015. Here in California, about one in…
February 24, 2020
More Attacks on the ACA – the Notice of Payment and Parameters Proposed Rule’s Impact on Consumers
Mara Youdelman
In three and a half years, the Trump Administration has sabotaged, undermined, defunded, and attempted to legislatively and judicially…
February 14, 2020
Trump Budget Takes Aim at Medicaid, Threatens Access to Quality Mental Health Care
Jennifer Lav
Medicaid is the backbone of a functioning community-based mental health system. It is the largest payer of behavioral health…
February 11, 2020
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning for Junk Health Plans
Sarah Grusin
On October 4, 2019 the President issued a Proclamation, barring the entry of immigrants to the United States unless…