NoHLA released a new report this week, “County-Based Health Coverage for Immigrants: A Proposal for Counties in Washington State”. We researched county health programs in other states to learn how they fill gaps in coverage that result from federal and state program limitations. We suggest creating similar programs in Washington to provide more consistent access to health care services, and reduce expensive and avoidable emergency care. County-based coverage would mitigate long-standing health inequities and would begin to restore coverage that immigrants lost when our state’s Basic Health Plan ended their coverage in 2011. We recommend providing comprehensive coverage, using a patient centered medical home model, and offering wraparound benefits such as care coordination and medical transportation. This approach received a positive reception when we briefed the Seattle City Council Housing, Health, Energy, and Workers’ Rights Committee and the King County Board of Health in February. We look forward to the development of a plan for funding and implementing immigrant coverage in King and other counties.

We are grateful to Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington for supporting this work.