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...
28k Washingtonians cancel insurance plans amid spiking costs, federal policies, KOMO News
From KOMO News report, "28k Washingtonians cancel insurance plans amid spiking costs, federal policies," by Jackie Kent: The Washington Health Benefit Exchange (WHBE, which runs the state’s health insurance marketplace) reports that approximately 28,000 people in Washington who buy their insurance plans, with the help of subsidies, cancelled their plans. That's 8,000 more cancellations than...
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...
Seattle leaders looking into 911 concerns, ambulance waits, Seattle Times
From The Seattle Times article, "Seattle leaders looking into 911 concerns, ambulance waits," by Daniel Beekman: Some experts worry 911 systems like Seattle’s will likely see even more strain as patients lose health insurance due to federal policy changes. “The reality is that we’re going to see more calls to 911 and pressure from all...
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...
How Seattle’s 911 ambulance system, nurse line stack up, The Seattle Times
From The Seattle Times article, "How Seattle’s 911 ambulance system, nurse line stack up," by Daniel Beekman: Many cities, like Seattle, have added 911 nurse lines in recent years to divert low-level patients away from crowded hospitals. But some have equipped their systems with more protections against extreme delays, like the 10 hours a woman...
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...
Eliminating Coverage for Therapies Will Harm Washingtonians… and Cost Us More! Organizations Raise the Alarm About Proposed Cuts
House budget proposal would cut physical, occupational, and speech therapies from Apple Health (Medicaid) for all adults FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2026 Contact: Melissa Warner, (206) 240-7629 SEATTLE, WA – Consumer advocacy and health organizations are sounding the alarm about the Washington House budget proposal that would remove physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy...