Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 93 resources
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Basic rights of all health care consumers
A Guide to Washington's Medical Marijuana Law
(Separate Website)
Information for patients, caregivers, doctors, and the public regarding medical marijuana use in Washington State.
By: ACLU
Health Care Rights of those Under 18 Years of Age
This publication outlines what health care services you may receive without the consent of a parent or guardian.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Providing Health Care to Minors Under Washington Law A summary of health care services that can be provided to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Questions and Answers on Living Wills A living will is a paper that tells your doctors or others providing your health care when you want them to stop life-sustaining medical treatment and let you die. A health care power of attorney allows someone you appoint to make medical-treatment decisions for you if you are no longer able to make them yourself. This publication contains general information and a Living Will form you may download.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Your Right to be Fully Informed of the Nature of Proposed Medical Treatment Before You Consent
Under the doctrine of "informed consent," you have a right to be given sufficient information to make an intelligent decision regarding your medical care. This is because you have the right to decide what happens to your body.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Right to Correct Inaccurate Information in your Health Care File
You have the right to correct or amend your medical records for accuracy and completeness. You may correct any medical records you have a right to examine and copy.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Right to Examine and Obtain Copies of Your Medical Records
You have a right, under almost all circumstances, to examine and obtain copies of your medical file. Your health care provider must also explain any abbreviations or codes used in your medical records.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Right to Keep Your Medical Records Private
Except in very limited circumstances, your health care provider may only disclose your health care information to another person upon your written consent.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Charity Care: Medical Coverage for Hospital-Based Medical Services This publication is intended to answer common questions about the medical coverage program called "Charity Care"; the legal authority for this program is set forth in R.C.W. Ch. 70.170 and WAC Ch. 246-453 which should be available in your local library or on the internet. For information on other programs of medical coverage that may be available to low-income persons in the state of Washington see our publication How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help with Medical Bills?
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Estate Recovery for Medical Services Paid for by the State
The state has many programs that pay for medical services. The Medicaid program is one example. Under some of these programs and with important limitations, the estate recovery law allows the state to recover (to be paid back) the cost of the services it pays for.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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How to Present a Charity Care Defense to a Lawsuit for Hospital Debt Collection
This packet is intended to help you when you are being sued for hospital-based medical services which you would not owe if the hospital had correctly determined your eligibility for Charity Care.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers on Medicaid for Nursing Home Residents
Medicaid is a government program that pays for medical services including nursing home care. It is administered by DSHS -- the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
To receive Medicaid payment for nursing home care, you must meet the financial eligibility requirements described in this publication. Also, you must need the care provided in a nursing home.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Your Rights Under Healthy Options
Healthy Options is the name of the Medicaid "managed care" program offered by the Department of Social and Health Services. Under Healthy Options you are enrolled in a health plan, such as Group Health, Regence Blue Shield, or CHPW.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
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Alternatives to Guardianships for Adults 3302EN - When a person has significant problems managing financial affairs or personal care, guardianship may be considered. Guardianship should be viewed as an option of last resort, however, because it can be costly (involves going to court) and it deprives an adult of very significant personal rights. This publication provides general information about alternatives to guardianship.
By: Northwest Justice Project
How to Modify or Remove a Guardianship
(Separate Website)
Under Washington law, anyone can request the court under which the guardianship was established to terminate the guardianship, modify the guardian's duties, or have the guardian removed or replaced with another guardian.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Protecting Elders and Vulnerable Adults from Abuse and Neglect
The law protects frail elders and vulnerable adults. This publication discusses different types of abuse that these individuals are protected from under the law.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers on Guardianship
3300EN - A guardian is a person appointed by a court to manage the affairs of a person who is incapacitated. This publication provides general information about how and when a guardian should be appointed.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Questions and Answers on Powers of Attorney It is often convenient - or even necessary - to have someone else act for you. When you give someone the power to act for you, you give what is called a power of attorney. If you give a power of attorney, you are called the principal and the person you give it to is called the agent or the attorney-in-fact.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Special Needs Trust
(Separate Website)
A Special Needs Trust provides a way for a person with a disability to receive financial support, from for example an inheritance or legal settlement, while remaining eligible for SSI or Medicaid.
By: Disability Rights Washington
General Assistance Denial for Medical Reasons
7111EN - The Disability Lifeline program (formerly GAU) program provides income and medical coverage if you are a citizen or eligible immigrant, you have income and resources within Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) rules, and you are "incapacitated." Incapacitated means you are unable to work due to physical or mental conditions (or both) that are expected to last at least 90 days.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight Your GAU Termination Due to Medical Improvement
When you start getting General Assistance Unemployable (GAU) benefits, the local Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) welfare office uses the medical evidence that proves you are incapacitated (unable to work) to decide how soon they should review your case. After the review, they may send you a letter saying that they will terminate (stop) your benefits. This publication tells you what you can do if you disagree with their decision.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Rights Under Healthy Options
Healthy Options is the name of the Medicaid "managed care" program offered by the Department of Social and Health Services. Under Healthy Options you are enrolled in a health plan, such as Group Health, Regence Blue Shield, or CHPW.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
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Application for Children's Medical Benefits
(Separate Website)
Application form for persons under the age of 19 who want medical benefits.
Charity Care: Medical Coverage for Hospital-Based Medical Services This publication is intended to answer common questions about the medical coverage program called "Charity Care"; the legal authority for this program is set forth in R.C.W. Ch. 70.170 and WAC Ch. 246-453 which should be available in your local library or on the internet. For information on other programs of medical coverage that may be available to low-income persons in the state of Washington see our publication How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help with Medical Bills?
By: Northwest Justice Project
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DSHS Apple Health for Kids Medical Programs
Medical programs in Washington provide full medical and dental coverage for children whose families have incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Read this publication to find out who qualifies.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Guide to Finding Health Insurance Coverage
(Separate Website)
If you are looking for medical coverage, this guide can help point the way.
By: Let's Get America Covered
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Help With Prescription Drug Costs
(Separate Website)
Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the extra help if they have limited income and resources. The extra help can increase their cost savings by paying for part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the new prescription drug program. The extra help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year.
By: Social Security Online
How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help With Medical Bills?
This publication explains what types of health care coverage are offered by the state for those in need.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Present a Charity Care Defense to a Lawsuit for Hospital Debt Collection
This packet is intended to help you when you are being sued for hospital-based medical services which you would not owe if the hospital had correctly determined your eligibility for Charity Care.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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ParentHelp123.org Benefit Finder
(Separate Website)
Using the Benefit Finder, families can learn if they may be eligible for free and low-cost health insurance and food assistance, and then complete their program applications on-line!
By: WithinReach
Questions and Answers on Medicaid for Nursing Home Residents
Medicaid is a government program that pays for medical services including nursing home care. It is administered by DSHS -- the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
To receive Medicaid payment for nursing home care, you must meet the financial eligibility requirements described in this publication. Also, you must need the care provided in a nursing home.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Questions and Answers on the COPES Program
COPES is a program that pays for personal care and other services for people in their own homes. COPES also pays for care in adult family homes, adult residential care facilities, and assisted living facilities. It is designed to help people who, without COPES, would need to be in nursing homes.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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The Medicine Program: When You Can't Afford Your Medicine
(Separate Website)
If you qualify, this program will help you obtain prescription medicine at no cost.
By: The Medicine Program
The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State
(Separate Website)
The Calculator can help you: plan and develop career goals so you can work towards a better paying job; decide if a job you are considering will pay enough to meet your family's needs; determine if you might be eligible for public benefits that can help with expenses like health care or child care; test and compare different work or living options and see how they affect your bottom line.
By: Workforce Development Councils of Washington State
Understanding Basic Health
(Separate Website)
Details from DSHS about the Basic Health Care Program.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Understanding the New Washington Health Program Washington Health Program (WHP) is a new health insurance plan offered by the Washington Health Care Authority starting July 2010. Unlike the Basic Health program, WHP is not subsidized by the state. You get care through the Community Health Plan of Washington, a managed care organization. You must be a Washington resident (citizen/immigrant status not required). You may not receive Basic Health or DSHS medical coverage while on WHP, and you may not be eligible for Medicare.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
Washington Basic Health Plan
(Separate Website)
Information on how to apply for the Basic Health plan, the waiting list, and how much it will cost if and when you qualify.
By: Washington State Health Care Authority
Washington Medical Coverage: State and Federal Programs
(Separate Website)
Information about government health programs for adults, children and senior citizens.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
What is the Alien Emergency Medical Program?
If you have a medical emergency, the federally funded Alien Emergency Medical (AEM) may be available to pay for services necessary to pay for that emergency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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A Kinship Caregiver's Guide to Consenting to Health Care A kinship caregiver is a relative who is taking care of a child but is not the child's parent. This guide provides a child's kinship caregiver information about consenting to health care options.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Application for Children's Medical Benefits
(Separate Website)
Application form for persons under the age of 19 who want medical benefits.
Basic Health Plus - Medical Coverage for Children
(Separate Website)
Basic Health Plus is a Medicaid program for children in qualified households. If you are eligible for Basic Health your children may be eligible for Basic Health Plus. They must be under age 19 and U.S. citizens or legal residents who arrived in the U.S. on or before August 22 1996. If your children are not living in your household you may be able to enroll them in Basic Health but not Basic Health Plus.
By: DSHS
DSHS Apple Health for Kids Medical Programs
Medical programs in Washington provide full medical and dental coverage for children whose families have incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Read this publication to find out who qualifies.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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DSHS Application for Children's Medical Benefits
(Separate Website)
Department of Social & Health Services application for children's medical benefits.
Good News! The Children's Health Care Program is back in 2006 Medical coverage for children of low-income familes is available.
By: Healthy Kids Now!
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Health Care Rights of those Under 18 Years of Age
This publication outlines what health care services you may receive without the consent of a parent or guardian.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Healthy Ties: The Grandparent's and Other Relatives Guide to Health Insurance for Children
(Separate Website)
What you need to know about Medicaid and The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
By: Children's Defense Fund
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Living Will Registry
(Separate Website)
The Washington State Living Will Registry allows you to store your living will documents in a secure, online database. A living will gives you the power to record your medical decisions in the event you're unable to communicate and gives your physician vital information about your treatment wishes. Only authorized health care providers may access and view your documents in the registry. The registry also stores your emergency contact information so that family and next of kin can be contacted.
By: Department of Health
Providing Health Care to Minors Under Washington Law A summary of health care services that can be provided to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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