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...
Category: News
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...
HR 1 Medicaid Impacts – Presentation for Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness Members
NoHLA Senior Attorney, Vanessa R. Saavedra, recently presented information about HR 1 at the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness General Membership Meeting. Back-to-back with a complimentary presentation by Community Health Plan of WA (CHPW), we shared information about how HR 1 is impacting Medicaid for Washingtonians. Meeting recording, notes, slides, and additional details are available...
Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar – March 25, 2026
Updated March 27, 2026 Thanks for your interest in NoHLA's 2026 Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar, held March 25. The materials presented are shared here for your convenience: Recording (video, audio, transcript on YouTube) Presentation slides (PDF) updated 04.16.26 Additional resources from chat: Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI) fact sheet on the Millionaires’ Tax WA Health Care Experience...
Legislative Updates: One Week Left
With just one more week of the state legislative session to go, there’s so much on the line for health care in Washington. Here’s what’s happening as we count down the days until session ends March 12. March 6 is the second chamber cut-off: the last day for bills to pass a floor vote in...
Legislative Updates: Health Care Bills to Watch
We’re more than halfway through the 2026 state legislative session! There are only 3 weeks left to go in this 60-day session, which is slated to end March 12. This week marked a key milestone: Tuesday was the “first chamber cutoff,” or the date by which policy bills need to have passed out of the...