Access to Medications
Medicaid Unwinding and Work Requirements: Endangering Access to Healthcare
Within the complex American healthcare system, Medicaid stands as an essential lifeline for low-income individuals and people with disabilities. Medicaid became even more critical for supporting people’s health during COVID.…
Read MoreDecision Challenges the ACA’s Free Preventive Services and PrEP Coverage
Background On March 30, 2023, Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a critical ruling in Braidwood Management v. Becerra by striking…
Read MoreAdvocates Push to End Prior Authorization Requirement for Hepatitis C Cures
On Thursday, in coalition with over 100 healthcare providers and organizations, Legal Council for Health Justice urged the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to end its use of…
Read MoreHIV Prevention Treatment Isn’t ‘Political.’ It’s Life-Saving.
Preventing HIV transmission is deemed too ‘political’ for social media, according to a recent incident with Facebook and Instagram. Social media sites have been placed squarely in the news with…
Read MorePolicy Update: Creating healthy futures for Illinoisans
The fight for health justice continues in Illinois with many bills to protect and expand access to healthy futures in Illinois.
Read More#LegalCouncil30 – A note from Legal Council Executive Director Tom Yates
#LegalCouncil30 – A note from Executive Director Tom Yates Legal Council is officially 30! Because of loyal friends like you, we have accomplished so much over the past three decades.…
Read MoreShort-term plans lead to long-term risks
Short term limited duration (STLD) plans might be cheaper than traditional policies but come with the price of limited benefits. This is bad news for people who are diagnosed with…
Read MorePaying the price of HIV
Chicago resident Jared Wile can no longer afford his $1,600/month HIV prevention medication. Up until a few months ago, Jared never had to pay any out-of-pocket costs. Instead, he used a copay coupon to cover the costs of the medicine PrEP, an HIV prevention medication that, when taken daily, is proven to be 90% effective in preventing HIV. But in May, Jared learned that he could no longer use the copay coupon for the medication.
Read MorePolicy Update: Legal Council Advocacy Victories
May was a busy month for the legal experts here at Legal Council for Health Justice. When we weren’t serving and empowering low-income people with chronic illnesses or disabilities at over a dozen on-site clinics across the city, or suing the State of Illinois on behalf of thousands of Illinoisans wrongfully delayed or denied Medicaid coverage, OR leading advocacy efforts in the State Board of Education investigation into CPS’ special education program and procedural violations, our team was hard at work advocating for numerous policies across the State.
Read MorePharmacies: An Endangered Species
A growing trend in the low income neighborhoods of Chicago is causing a great deal of concern for public health. Compared to white neighborhoods, black and Latino communities are being labeled as pharmacy deserts. “Pharmacy deserts” are neighborhoods that are suffering from various pharmacy closures. These vulnerable communities are usually less affluent and home to minorities and senior citizens. When pharmacies close, these residents are left behind without basic needs.
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