Last week, Medicaid expansion was approved in Virginia and four states (UT, ID, NE and MT*) will have measures on the ballot this fall. (*Montana’s current expansion is set to expire in 2019, hence the ballot measure to continue the program.) Unfortunately, some red states continue to weaken the Medicaid program with new waivers for...

Eager to learn more about the anticipated public charge rules? Join Protecting Immigrant Families – Washington State for a lunch and learn on June 12, 2018 from 12:00pm – 1:30pm. RSVP here and please spread the word. The event is geared towards ethnic media reporters, leaders and influencers, but is open to all community members...

Vox has been doing in-depth reporting on emergency room hospital costs and their latest report was on surprise billing. The profiled patient went to an in-network emergency room only to receive a nearly $8,000 bill. The article includes this great quote from a researcher: “Even with a PhD in surprise billing, you couldn’t make sure...

A dental provider-type that started in Alaska is paving the way for improved care for the American Indian and Alaska Native population throughout Washington State. During the 2017 legislative session, SB 5079 was approved to allow tribes to access federal money for the use of this dental provider –  dental health aide therapists (DHATs). A...

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rule Tuesday that would ban Title X Family Planning Program providers, including Planned Parenthood, from either providing or referring patients for abortions. The policy (briefly in effect previously) is known as a “gag rule” because it bars caregivers at facilities receiving family planning funds...

Kaiser Permanente recognizes the impact of housing instability on health outcomes. They are making $200 million in impact investments toward affordable housing in communities where Kaiser Permanente exists, which includes eight states, including Washington, and the District of Columbia. They will partner with community development finance institutions and developers to ensure people can preserve or...

We were pleased to join a group of 42 other health care advocacy groups in a “friend of the court” brief in support of California laws to protect immigrants from federal deportation. In U.S. v. California, the Trump Administration seeks a federal court injunction against these state laws. The amicus brief focuses on the sweeping public...

Governor Inslee recently released a five-year plan to transform Washington’s mental health system, calling for the transition of care from large mental health institutions (Western and Eastern State Hospitals) into smaller, regional state-run facilities. Patients referred to the hospitals by civil courts or regional mental health systems would move into the smaller facilities and private...

President Trump announced a new plan to control drug costs, but it lacked the punch advocates were hoping for. Many of the proposed policies are modest steps that have already been taken or that will require more time and study, including changes to purchasing by federal programs and additional changes related to rebates from drug...

The Affordable Care Act included a Basic Health option that allows states to cover individuals earning below 200 percent of federal poverty through a state-run program. New York and Minnesota sued after the federal government changed the amounts they would receive to operate their Basic Health programs following the termination of cost-sharing reductions. They reached...