by Daphne Smith, NoHLA Co-Executive Director and Excelsior Wellness Board Member Originally written for Excelsior Wellness and cross-posted here with permission from the author. A few years ago in Spokane, hospitals and urgent care centers seemed to appear almost overnight. Many were placed in central, highly trafficked areas — often near one another and their...
Category: News
Charity Care Tested in Court. Again.
When it comes to Washington's charity care laws, NoHLA has been advocating for consumer access and protections since 1989. We recently joined Columbia Legal Services and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility in filing an amicus brief (also known as a friend-of-the-court brief) in the case of Preston v. SB&C, Ltd., aka Skagit Bonded Collectors, LLC....
Improving Access to Medicare Savings Programs
by Ann Vining, NoHLA Senior Attorney Medicare is health coverage, but having it does not mean a person can afford the care they need. Medicare is expensive. And it's hard to get help with those costs. But, in case you missed it, there's some good news. Washington finally has a way to improve access to...
June 24 – APIC Immigrant Health Forum
Join the APIC Immigrant Health Forum: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 3 - 4:30 PM PST Zoom Join this session to learn about: Federal HR 1 changes going into effect. Current and expected impacts to health care access for immigrant communities in WA. Ways we can prepare to support community members at risk of losing health...
Ruling on Insurance Blanket Exclusions
From The Spokesman-Review, "GLP1s weight-loss drugs may soon be covered by health insurance under new Washington court ruling" by Amanda Sullender: The Washington statute “does not permit” a health insurance plan deciding “not to deal with a person’s disability for no reason other than because it had always done so,” wrote Judge Ian Birk in...
Nearly 40,000 Fewer Washingtonians Have Healthplanfinder Coverage This Year
New report echoes nationwide health care crisis. Advocates demand lawmaker action. This press release was originally published by Fair Health Prices Washington, a coalition co-led by NoHLA. SEATTLE, WA – Declining health coverage should alarm everyone in Washington state, consumer health advocates warn. A new report from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (WAHBE) reveals that nearly 40,000 fewer...
Inspiring Conversations with Daphne Smith of Northwest Health Law Advocates
In her interview for VoyageWashington Magazine's "Inspiring Conversations" series, NoHLA's co-executive director, Daphne Smith, shares: While some of my choices may have made my journey more complex, I have been fortunate that many of the challenges I encountered were either justifiable and gave me the opportunity to learn and grow or it highlighted a misalignment...