Empire Justice Center health law staff are focused on providing direct legal representation for low- income New Yorkers. We assist clients with a wide variety of legal issues, including problems with:
- eligibility for public health insurance programs
- access to health care services, prescription drugs, and durable medical equipment
- reductions or discontinuances of health care benefits and services, including home care
- medical billing issues and cost of care
- understanding health insurance and coordination of benefits
Please note that we do not represent clients in medical malpractice claims, personal injury cases, or guardianship applications.
We also provide trainings and technical assistance to other advocates across the State,, and take referrals for complex cases. Through partnership and collaboration with other legal service agencies and community organizations, we, engage in statewide health policy advocacy to further social, racial, and economic equity for our clients.
We encourage you to visit NYHealthAccess, a website co-sponsored by Empire Justice, the Legal Aid Society of New York City, and Selfhelp, Inc. (New York Legal Assistance Group). NYHealthAccess will provide you with a comprehensive listing of advocacy materials on New York’s public health insurance programs.
Contact
Potential clients, and advocates seeking support with technical assistance or trainings, please contact health@empirejustice.org or 1-800-724-0490 x5822.
Health Team
Daniele Belcher
Nathaniel Baldo
Resources & Policy Documents
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Joint Legislative Public Hearings on the 2026-2027 Executive Budget Proposal We share concerns with the advocate community about the impacts of H.R. 1; we support the requests in the Medicaid Matters testimony. Our testimony focuses on items related to funding for legal services and other issues we see our clients facing. In today’s testimony, we […]
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Joint Legislative Public Hearings on 2025-2026 Executive Budget Proposal This testimony touches on the work of the New York State Office for the Aging, the Office of Children and Family Services, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and the Department of Health. We will discuss the positions set forth below: A PDF version is available for […]
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The Center for Elder Law & Justice and the Empire Justice Center are pleased to announce an update to the free “Nursing Home Resident Rights and Tips” resource guide, informed by community feedback through a public survey. The guide offers concise descriptions of important resident rights, answers frequently asked questions, provides general how-to information, and […]
Training Videos
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Legal Action Center, Empire Justice Center and the AIDS Institute are pleased to present this free training. Effective April 1, 2023, the pharmacy benefit for all NYS Medicaid members enrolled...
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This presentation, previously recorded 12/11/2023, will provide a basic explanation of how these two programs fit together for individuals living with HIV that are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare...
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Legal Action Center, Empire Justice Center and the AIDS Institute are pleased to present this free training. Effective April 1, 2023, the pharmacy benefit for all NYS Medicaid members enrolled...
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Legal Action Center, Empire Justice Center and the AIDS Institute are pleased to present this free training which will provide attendees with an understanding of the language access obligations of...
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This presentation, recorded on 4/12/2022, will provide a basic explanation of how these two programs fit together for individuals living with HIV that are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare...
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This webinar, recorded on 2/10/2022, will increase health and human services providers’ awareness of the issues clients face accessing HIV related medications in the Medicaid program. Participants will develop the...
Recent News
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Active Litigation
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HOSPITAL CARE IN NEW YORK Enforceability of the Right to Meaningful Language Access November 10, 2011 Author: Linda Hassberg By Bradley J. Schloss 1 and Linda Hassberg I. Introduction Hospitals in New York State are required to provide language assistance to consumers with limited English proficiency (LEP). LEP individuals are unable to communicate effectively in English because their primary language
