Our Legislative Work

Since its founding in 1999, NoHLA has promoted state-level policies that improve access to affordable, quality health care for lower-income residents. As part of that work, NoHLA:

• Participates in coalitions, providing technical assistance and helping to identify key issues that affect health care for Washington residents.
• Develops policy priorities and advocates for regulatory or legislative solutions.
• Monitors state bill and budget proposals during each legislative session.
• Provides updates and tracking of state bills and budget proposals to our followers and the public.

NoHLA in the 2024 Legislature

The state legislative session is a critical time for Washington’s health care system. As this is the second session of the biennium, there are only 60 days to make a difference for Washingtonians who urgently need greater access, affordability, and equity in health care.

NoHLA is up to the task – we are reviewing hundreds of health care bills, working in coalition with community-based and patient organizations, and providing a consumer and patient-focused perspective to legislators on key health care issues.

We’re working to advance the following priorities this session, among others - learn more on our Featured Policy Priorities page and see updates in our blog posts.

Equity in New Immigrant Health Coverage Programs

As a founding partner of the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign (HEIC), we fought for 3 years to ensure that all Washington residents have access to health coverage and care, regardless of immigration status. Our shared efforts with community organizations paid off: in the 2023 legislative session, the Legislature expanded coverage to undocumented immigrants through the state Exchange in January 2024 and a new Medicaid-like program in July 2024. Since the last session, NoHLA has been working alongside community organizations to focus on the successful implementation of the new programs in 2024. But we and many others are concerned that funding for the programs will be insufficient to meet the need. We are supporting calls to expand the programs with more funding this session.

Access to Quality Health Care

While our many years of advocacy has resulted in more people having health care coverage, there are still inequities in access to health care for some Washingtonians. In 2024, we are working to support a range of policies that would help improve access, including protecting preventive care from political attacks, expanding Apple Health programs to offer more continuous coverage for children and pregnant/postpartum people, and studying the next steps in our effort to expand Medicare affordability for older adults and people with disabilities. 

Tackling Escalating Health Prices

The cost of health care is increasingly unsustainable. Despite all the progress we have made in Washington, many people must still choose between going to the doctor and paying for basic needs like food and rent. No single answer can solve this complex issue. But new data is helping us understand the drivers of health care spending and how we can make a difference. In 2024, we are focused with partners in the Fair Health Prices Washington effort on improving health spending transparency and accountability, ending abusive billing practices like surprise  ground ambulance balance billing, addressing unfair negotiations between providers and health plans that drive up prices, and enabling the Attorney General to review health entity consolidations to make sure they improve access and affordability.

Summaries of Past Sessions

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2023 Washington Legislature and 2023-2025 Health Budget Highlights

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2022 Washington Legislature
Summary of provisions in the 2021 - 23 Operating Budget that relate to health care access

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2021 Washington Legislature
Summary of provisions in the 2021 - 23 Operating Budget that relate to health care access

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2020 Washington Legislature
2020 Supplemental Budget: Selected Provisions of Interest

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2019 Washington Legislature
Summary of provisions in the 2019 - 21 Operating Budget that relate to health care access

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2018 Washington Legislature of enacted bills
2018 Supplemental Budget: Selected Provisions of Interest

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2017 Washington Legislature of enacted bills
Summary of provisions in the 2017-19 Operating Budget that relate to health care access

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2016 Washington Legislature
2016 Supplemental Budget: Selected Provisions of Interest

Summary of Health Care Access Bills that Passed the 2015 Washington Legislature
Final Biennial Budget 2015-17: Selected Provisions of Interest