Fighting for Quality Health for All People for Almost 50 Years, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) Is Ready for Battle
Washington – Last night’s election outcome was startling and, for many in the country, cause for great concern about where we are heading. High on our list of concerns are the promises President-elect Donald J. Trump made on the campaign trail to do away with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and his support of Republicans’ longtime efforts to weaken Medicaid.
The National Health Law Program (NHeLP), founded in 1969 to defend and advance the health rights of low income individuals and underserved communities, is needed now more than ever.
NHeLP Executive Director Elizabeth G. Taylor issued the following statement regarding the outcome of the 2016 presidential election:
“We will redouble our efforts to protect Medicaid and the ACA, and we will continue to protect the rights of Americans on limited incomes to access quality health care, including access to comprehensive reproductive care. Medicaid and the ACA provide millions of Americans with health insurance, and NHeLP will fight to ensure such coverage is not lost.
“We have fought turning Medicaid into block grants for the states to administer, or limiting its scope with per capita caps, and we will do so again. NHeLP will ratchet up its legal and policy efforts to preserve and strengthen the ACA. These are battles that must be waged with thoughtfulness, vigor and courage. The millions who rely on Medicaid and the ACA are not going to be left behind. NHeLP is going to fight every day to ensure that does not happen.
“Weakening or destroying public health insurance programs will not make this a greater country. Instead such attacks on Medicaid and the ACA will exacerbate income inequality in this country. We cannot abandon the hope and promise of public health insurance programs. NHeLP has worked to preserve and bolster Medicaid for decades, and it was instrumental in shaping the ACA. NHeLP will not walk away from the fight to make this nation a more equal and just one. As daunting as the challenge may look today, NHeLP will not be disheartened or dissuaded from our work on behalf of the nation’s most vulnerable.”
For more information, see NHeLP’s paper, “Why Medicaid Is Essential to Low-Income People,” and stay tuned for more of our work.
Founded in 1969 NHeLP advocates for the rights of low-income and underserved people to access quality health care.
