On August 12, 2025, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction in a case brought by Washington, California, and other plaintiff states challenging a new federal practice sharing Medicaid data with immigration enforcement. The court’s decision currently blocks data collected from plaintiff states from being used for immigration enforcement, citing serious concerns about privacy and...
Category: News Posts
Policy Win: Medical Debt No Longer on WA Credit Reports
Nationally, the federal government and corporations are working hand-in-hand to dismantle many health care consumer protections. A federal judge recently struck down a Biden-era rule that aimed to remove medical debt from credit reports. But here in Washington, people with medical debt will still be protected, thanks to a new state law. We worked with...
Tackling Medical Debt in Washington: Policy & Progress
In a recent article featuring NoHLA’s Co-Executive Director Emily Brice, the bill’s sponsor Sen. Marcus Riccelli explained, “If you wake up and you have a bad day, you end up in the emergency room, that shouldn't impact whether or not you can get a job or get housing." We couldn’t agree more. Medical debt is...
Impact Analysis: May 11th House Health Cuts Proposals by Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, along with the Ways and Means Committee, recently proposed significant cuts to health programs, primarily targeting Medicaid. The proposal, released on May 11, includes measures such as implementing work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid recipients.
Updates from the 2025 WA Legislative Session
The Washington Legislature has reached the half-way mark ... Photo by Charles Lenhardt.
Medicaid Matters: The Impact for Washington
On a federal level, Congress has begun a budget “reconciliation” process to allow Congress to cut Medicaid with a simple Senate majority. Congressional committees are considering policy changes to cut Medicaid spending that could fundamentally alter the program.
2025 Legislative Session NoHLA Priorities
All eyes will be on the budget this year, as the Legislature faces a $10-12 billion revenue shortfall over the 4-year budget cycle and prepares for new threats to health care from the Trump Administration and Congress. Incoming Governor Ferguson has already asked state agencies to identify $4 billion in potential cuts. We’ll keep you updated throughout the session on this unfolding situation and other top health care priorities for Washington patients.