National Health Law Program

National Health Law Program
Abbreviation	NHeLP
Formation	1969
Purpose/focus	"Securing Health Rights for Those in Need"
Headquarters	Washington, DC
Executive Director	Emily Spitzer
Website	http://www.healthlaw.org

The National Health Law Program, usually abbreviated as NHeLP, works on behalf of limited-income people, people with disabilities, and children to improve their access to quality health care and to enforce their legal rights to health. With offices in California, North Carolina, and Washington, DC, NHeLP works with courts, government agencies, and Congress to ensure quality health care for the most vulnerable members of our society. NHeLP is a member of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights where it currently co-chairs the LCCR Health Taskforce with the National Partnership for Women and Families.

Organization

Founded in 1969, the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) is a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves legal services programs, community-based organizations, the private bar, providers and individuals who work to preserve a health care safety net for the millions of uninsured or underinsured low-income people.

The care-giving safety net that has propped up health care for the poor and uninsured is breaking apart, as government responsibility cascades from federal to state to local authorities, as health care marketplace consolidation continues largely unregulated and as states are pressured to cut costs and find quick savings. In the midst of these changes, it is critical to focus on preserving health care coverage for those most in need and with fewest resources. NHeLP seeks to provide a seat at the table for representatives of low-income people, to protect consumers in the emerging managed care systems, and to find creative financing solutions that also preserve government's responsibility as provider of last resort.

Program Areas

NHeLP works on a number of core policy areas including Medicaid, Children's Health, Reproductive Health, Language Access, Medicare, Health Disparities, Court Access, Government Accountability, and Health Reform.