The Washington Legislature concluded its 2023 session this past Sunday with a dramatic finish. On the last possible day, the Legislature finally reached consensus on a $69.2 billion final operating budget. But legislators failed to reach agreement on a permanent policy solution to the state Supreme Court’s 2021 Blake decision, which invalidated the state’s previous drug possession law. It is possible that the Legislature will reconvene for a special session to address this issue. More here. 

In the meantime, NoHLA is applauding big wins for health equity and access in the final budget, including:

Health Equity for Immigrants – After 3 years of tenacious advocacy by NoHLA and other members of the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign, Washington’s adult undocumented immigrants will finally have access to health coverage in 2024! With leadership from Rep. Thai, Rep. Macri, House Health Chair Riccelli, and Senate Health Chair Cleveland, the final budget includes: 

• $110 million (M) to continue funding for the Exchange’s Cascade Care Savings program, some of which will be available to undocumented immigrants under 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) starting January 2024
• $49.5M for a new Medicaid-like program for undocumented immigrants under 138% FPL starting July 2024
• $7.7M in new funds to increase the limited number of  low-income immigrants eligible for long-term care support
• $3.7M in new funds to support outreach, customer assistance, and administration for the new programs

Medicare Affordability – NoHLA’s effort with other advocates for elders and people with disabilities to improve Medicare affordability paid off! With leadership from Rep. Farivar and Sen. Cleveland, the final budget included $6.3M to expand eligibility for the “QMB” Medicare Savings Program  from 100% FPL to 110% FPL starting in April 2024. This targeted investment will ensure that more of our state’s lowest-income residents can access Medicare without premium and cost-sharing burdens. 

Health Prices – Thanks to NoHLA, others in Fair Health Prices Washington, and Rep. Macri, Sen. Robinson, and House Health Chair Riccelli,  the final budget included funds that will set the stage for longer-term reforms to our rising health prices:

• More analytical staff for the Health Care Cost Transparency Board so we can get to the bottom of what’s driving our state’s health care spending
• Funds to the Insurance Commissioner and Attorney General to investigate health care consolidation and policies in other states that are helping improve affordability

But the fight isn’t over. We’ll need to keep fighting for more policy changes and funding, especially since the Medicaid-like immigrant program is delayed and underfunded compared to the community need for care. For today, though, we are celebrating these major steps along the road to equity in health coverage and care for all Washington residents and grateful to NoHLA’s supporters for helping us get there. Thank you for helping us make it happen!

We’ll loop back in the coming days with updates, as the Governor has 20 days to act on the budget and other bills. Want more on how health care access items fared in the Washington legislature this session?  Check out last week’s blog posts for big news for oral health access and other bills.