Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Too many people in our community are struggling to afford essential healthcare. With changes to Medicaid eligibility rapidly approaching and insurance rates increasing by 22% in 2027, I am working hard to minimize the negative impacts of healthcare uncertainty on patients in Spokane and across the state.

A few weeks ago, I invited patient advocates, providers, insurance carriers, state agencies, and employers to join me at the FAIR Health Summit. FAIR stands for Focused on Access & Affordability, Innovative Solutions, and Resiliency for healthcare in Washington. This summit kicked off work that will continue through this fall and work to culminate in policy proposals to ensure that our state has both a short and long-term plan to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all.

Recently, the governor announced a new action to build an automated verification hub for work requirements that is expected to help 400,000 Washingtonians stay on Apple Health. He also established the H.R. 1 Continuous Medicaid Response Committee to monitor coverage disruptions and coordinate on opportunities for state action.

Out and About

Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to connect with community and learn more about the issues you care about.

  • Last week, I had the chance to attend an awesome event organized by local credit unions where over 1,500 students got to spend a whole day focusing on actively learning about financial education. It’s important to lay a fiscal foundation for students as they move to adulthood, and I think understanding increasingly complex financial systems is important. I don’t think everybody can prosper or thrive unless they are able to manage their finances and plan for the future. Thanks to the credit unions and volunteers for putting on this event!
  • I also had the opportunity to join other civic and business leaders for a tour of the iconic Washington Water Power building downtown and learn more about the future of power generation here in Spokane and across the region. We discussed steps we can take to ensure we have adequate energy to meet our needs and support a vibrant economy.

  • It is always a privilege to connect with local neighborhood councils and this week I attended the Comstock Neighborhood Council’s monthly meeting to hear about how they are working to improve life for their neighbors. We discussed wildfire mitigation and protections for homeowners living in or near the wildland urban interface, penalties for arson, as well as upcoming legislative action on data centers.

Meeting with local representatives of the Washington Hospitality Association.

  • I also had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Spokane chapter of the Hospitality Association. It is always helpful to hear directly from local owners and operators of hotels and restaurants so I can keep their experiences in mind going into the legislative session.
  • Last week, I attended an oral health event to discuss ways current laws are being implemented to increase access to dental care across our state. With upcoming cuts to Medicaid coverage, it is more important than ever to protect dental care.

Legislative internship opportunity

If you’re a college junior or senior interested in learning more about the Legislature, apply to our internship program. Interns get paid to work with member offices, participate in mock debates, meet with statewide elected officials, and more – all while earning academic credit. The priority deadline to apply is Oct. 21 and the final deadline is Oct. 28. Learn more and apply here.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at Marcus.Riccelli@leg.wa.gov.

It is an honor to serve you!

 

 

Sen. Marcus Riccelli