California Policy Advocacy

The California Policy Advocacy team at the National Health Law Program works to protect and expand access to quality, equitable health care for all people in California. Originally founded in Los Angeles, NHeLP has maintained a consistent and engaged presence in California since 1969. We use our legal and policy expertise to work with California advocates, and policymakers, as well as community members, in crafting some of the most equitable and innovative health policy initiatives in the country.

Medi-Cal, the nation’s largest state Medicaid program, provides free or low-cost health care coverage to approximately 15 million low-income adults, families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant people, and children and youth involved in child welfare, regardless of immigration status. Coupled with employer-based insurance and Covered California, the state’s health care marketplace, California is the first state to develop a template for near-universal coverage. NHeLP is proud to support California in creating and implementing bold, sustainable measures to advance health equity.  

To ensure that these policies positively impact the lives of Californians in concrete ways, we engage in advocacy with policymakers as well as state and local agencies that administer and oversee public and private health care programs. We work in collaboration with advocates and stakeholders to ensure health care laws, policies, and practices in California meet the needs of low-income and underserved people. We provide educational materials for advocates and the general public. We are also a support center for health and legal advocates across the state, including the statewide Health Consumer Alliance (HCA), a collaborative that provides individual health consumer assistance and policy advocacy, including legal representation, for low-income and underserved populations, as well as technical assistance and training to local legal aid programs and other advocates. Our long-term partnerships with local California advocacy groups ensure that we’re focused and informed on priorities from the people most impacted by Medi-Cal and other state health programs.


 

California Priorities & Resources

Our California Policy Advocacy team is committed to furthering laws and policies that make quality health care accessible to all people in California. As a dedicated Strategy area of the National Health Law Program, our California team works with staff across the organization to adapt national priorities for a California setting and serve as a testing ground for innovative health policies. California advocates work on issues related to Eligibility & Enrollment, Medicaid Services, Managed Care & Delivery Systems, Sexual & Reproductive Health, and Disability Advocacy. Follow the links below to learn more.

Shot of a young family bonding with their baby boy at home

Eligibility & Enrollment

Californians have fought to progressively expand Medi-Cal and marketplace coverage to more individuals and families. Learn more about Medi-Cal eligibility, enrollment, and retention and how California has built a template for universal health care coverage.

Services

Medi-Cal and private plans in California offer a robust set of health care services and resources to meet the health needs of people across the State. Learn more about what services exist and how NHeLP is working to expand access to even more critical services.

doctor using tablet computer in hospital

Managed Care & Delivery System Reform

In California, most people, whether in Medi-Cal, Covered California, or other private health coverage, receive their care from health plans. NHeLP works to ensure that these plans provide high quality and accessible care.

A pregnant African-American woman with her doula or birth support coach. The expectant mother, who had pink hair and is wearing a pink shirt, is sitting outdoors on a patio sofa smiling. The doula, a mixed race woman, is kneeling in front of her, touching her round abdomen. Both women are in their 30s.

Sexual & Reproductive Health

California has among the strongest sexual and reproductive health protections in the nation. Access to abortion services, contraceptives, and pregnancy care is guaranteed in both private insurance and Medi-Cal.

A slightly overhead perspective of two disabled Black people (a femme wearing compression gloves and a non-binary person in a power wheelchair) holding hands while on sitting across from each other on a coffee date.

Disability Advocacy

Millions of Californians with disabilities use Medi-Cal and other health care programs to access essential services, supports, and devices. NHeLP works with partners across the state to ensure that health care services are person centered, integrated, and provided in home and community-based settings. 


Intersection of Federal Policy and California Policy

Medi-Cal is the largest Medicaid program in the nation, and the millions of Californians who rely on it are also directly impacted by federal health care laws and policies. Similarly, Covered California represents an effective model for other state health insurance exchanges across the country to ensure access to affordable and comprehensive care for people in private plans. NHeLP’s deep connections to California, coupled with our extensive federal policy expertise, makes us a unique and critical partner in effective health care advocacy in California.

Learn more about Litigation & Enforcement at NHeLP

Some members on our California Policy Advocacy team also serve as counsel on cases filed as part of our Litigation & Enforcement team. They litigate cases involving Medi-Cal eligibility and services, managed health care delivery system issues, and health reform implementation. Our advocates also litigate constitutional and due process rights, disability and civil rights, and reproductive health care rights. Learn more about our broader Litigation & Enforcement work at NHeLP. 

California Blogs and Analysis

Medi-Cal: California Medicaid

Medi-Cal, the nation’s largest state Medicaid program, provides free or low-cost health care coverage to approximately 15 million low-income adults, families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant people, and children and youth involved in child welfare, regardless of immigration status. Medi-Cal, like other Medicaid programs, covers a wide range of health services which, taken together, are intended to provide a comprehensive package of health care services from infancy to end of life. To learn more about what services are covered and for an explanation of many of the important benefits available through Medi-Cal, please review our 2022 update to An Advocate’s Guide to Medi-Cal Services.

Meet the California Advocacy Team

Kimberly Lewis
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Kimberly Lewis

Managing Director, California Advocacy and Practice Area Managing Director

Kimberly Lewis is the Managing Director, California Advocacy and Practice Area Managing Director at the National Health Law Program’s…

Romon Thomas-Brown
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Romon Thomas-Brown

Grants Management Assistant

Area(s) of Expertise: Grants Management, AdministrationRomon Thomas-Brown in her stay of over 30 years at NHeLP has held various…

Fabiola De Liban
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Fabiola De Liban

Director, Sexual & Reproductive Health

Area(s) of Expertise: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Abortion Coverage; Reproductive Justice; Telehealth and Medicaid; ACA Marketplaces; Diversity, Equity, and…

Amy Chen
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Amy Chen

Senior Attorney

Area(s) of Expertise: Sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy coverage, maternal health, expanding access to doula care, Medicaid coverage for doula…

Abigail Coursolle
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Abigail Coursolle

Senior Attorney

Abigail (Abbi) Coursolle is a Senior Attorney in the National Health Law Program’s Los Angeles offices. Abbi provides technical…

Alicia Emanuel
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Alicia Emanuel

Senior Attorney

Area(s) of Expertise: California, Medi-Cal Eligibility, Covered California, Exchange Coverage, Children's Health, CA Children's Services Program  Alicia Emanuel is…

Jessica Gonzalez
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Jessica Gonzalez

Operations Coordinator

Jessica Gonzalez is the National Health Law Program’s Operations Coordinator. She supports the Mission Coordination Team with the organization's…

Héctor Hernández-Delgado
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Héctor Hernández-Delgado

Senior Attorney

Area(s) of Expertise: Medicaid; Medi-Cal; Substance Use Disorders; Mental Health: Essential Health Benefits; Health Reform; Medicaid in TerritoriesHéctor Hernández-Delgado…

Jules Lutaba
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Jules Lutaba

Senior Attorney

Jules Lutaba is a Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program, based in California. His work involves a…

Bianka Muro
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Bianka Muro

Office & Operations Coordinator - Los Angeles

Bianka Muro is the Office & Operations Coordinator - Los Angeles. Previously, Bianka worked as an Operations Manager for…

Carly Myers
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Carly Myers

Staff Attorney

Carly Myers is a Staff Attorney with the National Health Law Program’s California office. Carly’s work focuses on California…

Alexis Robles-Fradet
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Alexis Robles-Fradet

Policy Analyst

Area(s) of Expertise: Medi-Cal, Medicaid, Reproductive and Sexual Health, Behavioral Health, Health Equity, EHBsAlexis Robles-Fradet is a Health Policy…

Shantell Starr
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Shantell Starr

Administration Manager

Shantell Starr is the Administration Manager for the National Health Law Program’s Los Angeles, California office. Shantell is the…

Skyler Rosellini
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Skyler Rosellini

Assistant Director of California Policy

Skyler Rosellini (he/him) is the Assistant Director of California Policy at the National Health Law Program in Los Angeles,…

Jasmine Young
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Jasmine Young

Staff Attorney

Jasmine Young is a Staff Attorney at the National Health Law Program in Los Angeles, California. Jasmine engages in…