Washington’s community health centers serve nearly 10 percent of the state’s population, including half of the state’s uninsured children, according to Vital Signs 2008.

State Policy and Advocacy

CHNW and Community Health Plan employ a strategic public policy and advocacy strategy in Olympia to promote public policies that increase access to health insurance and health care, and reduce the number of uninsured people in our state. We partner with the Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers (WACMHC) on policy and advocacy.

2008 Legislative Session Review

Washington's state legislative session ended on March 13th, 2008. Our comprehensive 2008 Legislative Summary includes information about legislation with impacts on Community Health Plan and Washington's community health centers. In 2008 our priorities included:

• Expanding the Washington State Health Professional Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program (HPLRS)
• Expanding Dental Care Capacity
• Ensuring Adequate Healthy Options Managed Medicaid Rates

Health Care Reform Principles

As Washington State, like states around the nation, considers ways to reform its health care system, CHNW has developed principles to guide how we can shape and participate in the debate.

Community Health Centers are Health Care Homes

We strive for a health care system in which patients are getting their health care in a medical home setting. The state is implementing quality measures that will incentivize providers to integrate medical home components into their practices. Community Health Centers (CHCs) can serve as a model for these efforts. CHCs use a Health Care Home model, integrating medical, dental and behavioral health with comprehensive wrap-around services that maximize effectiveness of clinical care. Read more about the CHC Health Care Home model here.

Washington State Legislature

Find your Washington State legislator, as well as information about past, current, and upcoming legislative sessions, bills, regulations, and the legislative process.