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Pennsylvania Health Law Project

EIN 23-2749089 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH LAW PROJECT (PHLP) IS TO SAFEGUARD AND ADVANCE HEALTH CARE RIGHTS FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. BY PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES, ENGAGING IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT BEST ADDRESS OUR CLIENTS' HEALTHCARE NEEDS, PHLP STRIVES TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE COMPLEX HEALTH SYSTEMS AND GET THE CARE THEY NEED.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
18
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$126,039, co-executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH LAW PROJECT (PHLP) IS A STATEWIDE, SPECIALIZED LEGAL AID PROGRAM WITHIN THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, PHLP HAS WORKED TO SAFEGUARD AND ADVANCE THE HEALTH CARE RIGHTS OF LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED, AND/OR MARGINALIZED PENNSYLVANIANS.PHLP'S CORE WORK INCLUDES: PROVIDING DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO PENNSYLVANIANS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET OR KEEP MEDICAID AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CARE COVERAGE OR SERVICES. WE DO THIS THROUGH LEGAL COUNSELING AND REPRESENTATION IN APPEALS WHEN BENEFITS OR SERVICES ARE DENIED. WE ALSO USE OUR LEGAL EXPERTISE TO TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS AND HELP ELIMINATE BARRIERS PEOPLE FACE TRYING TO ACCESS HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE OR HEALTH CARE TREATMENT AND SERVICES THEY NEED. IN FY 2024-2025, PHLP HANDLED 2,378 CASES FOR CLIENTS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. CONDUCTING COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MEDICAID AND OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED INCOMES AND UPDATE THEM ABOUT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS; RAISE AWARENESS OF PARTICIPANT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS WITHIN MEDICAID; AND SHARE INFORMATION TO EMPOWER PEOPLE IN THEIR SELF-ADVOCACY EFFORTS. IN FY 2024-2025, PHLP EDUCATED MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE AND DISTRIBUTED A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO MORE THAN 4,650 SUBSCRIBERS. ENGAGING IN SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE THE MEDICAID SYSTEM FOR ALL PENNSYLVANIANS WHO RELY ON THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN MANAGED CARE. SERVING AS AN EXPERT RESOURCE TO OTHER LEGAL AID PROGRAMS AS WELL AS SOCIAL WORKERS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, LAWYERS, AND OTHER ADVOCATES AND PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH OUR CLIENT COMMUNITY ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CASE CONSULTATION, EDUCATION, AND OTHER SUPPORT. IN FYE 2024, PHLP HELPED PROFESSIONALS WITH MORE THAN 400 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CASE CONSULTATION REQUESTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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