Washington State Office of Equity

08/28/2026

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While nothing has changed yet, new Medicaid rules are coming later this year.

Not every Apple Health (Medicaid) member will be impacted.

Adults may have to renew their Apple Health coverage twice a year and prove that they work, go to school, or volunteer.

Learn more at hca.wa.gov/hr1-changes State Health Care Authority

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Aunque todavía no ha cambiado nada, nuevas normas de Medicaid entrarán a finales de este año.

No todos los miembros de Apple Health (Medicaid) se verán afectados.

Es posible que tengas que renovar su cobertura de Apple Health dos veces al año y demostrar que trabajan, estudian o realizan voluntariado.

Aprende más en hca.wa.gov/hr1-changes

08/28/2026

Scissors. Can openers. Even the cabinets and drawers in your house. Ever think about who they were designed for?

In this clip from Episode 4 of Equity Ain’t Dirty, TeyAnjulee Leon, DEI Plan Manager at WSDOT, shares a simple story about growing up with a left-handed mom, and uses it to explain a much bigger idea: barriers aren’t something people carry with them. They’re built into systems that were never designed with everyone in mind.

🎥 Watch the full episode to hear more about what equity means and why removing barriers helps everyone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3jYmDKYUBg

08/26/2026

On June 17th, Blacks United in Leadership and Diversity (BUILD) hos...

08/26/2026

While nothing has changed yet, new Medicaid rules are coming later this year. Adults may have to renew their Apple Health coverage twice a year and prove that they work, go to school, or volunteer.

Read below to stay informed!

HCA is reviewing how HR 1 will affect Apple Health. Our top priority is to keep you updated and let you know if you need to take action to keep your coverage. We are committed to making any changes as easy as possible. Changes will roll out over the next few years, and many details are still being developed. If changes to eligibility, coverage, or benefits are required, we will share that information clearly and early, so you know what to expect.

Visit this webpage for information on expected changes: https://loom.ly/92Yr7Wk

08/24/2026

This week we’re highlighting Entre Hermanos. They have spent over 30 years promoting the health and well-being of the Latinx LGBTI+ community in Washington through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy, and community building.

Entre Hermanos offers free immigration legal clinics, HIV prevention and care, housing assistance, and wraparound support in a culturally grounded and affirming space. Outreach is available in Spanish and five Indigenous languages of Mexico and Central America.

Check them out at entrehermanos.org

🔎 Find more immigration resources on Washington for All, our free directory: WAforAll.wa.gov

08/21/2026

A lot of us are struggling right now, and that matters. You’re not alone, and you’re not invisible.

Last week, EQUITY Director Megan Matthews spoke at Tacoma Community College about EQUITY’s mission to create real change across Washington state. She talked about what it means to make sure people are seen and valued, no matter what they’re going through, and why equal access to education and opportunity can change the course of someone’s life.

Thank you to Tacoma Community College for having us and for the warm welcome!

08/20/2026

Washington for All means everyone. Today, the Office of Equity wants to uplift our tribal neighbors during this difficult time in Washington state history.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Yakama Nation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians have all been hit hard by wildfires this summer. As of August 17th, fires are still burning on the Colville Reservation, with 59 structures lost and many families displaced.

Some numbers that show the scale of this crisis:

📍 The Kaiser Canyon and Moldrite Fires have burned around 196,000 acres on Colville land since July 17th, that’s 25% of all the acreage burned in Washington state this year.
📍 Since 2014, 1 million acres have burned on the Colville Reservation. The whole reservation is only 1.4 million acres. That means 71% of it has burned in the last 10 years.
📍 The Yakama Nation has lost 4,300 acres to the Ransier Fire.
📍 The Spokane Tribe has lost 4,500 acres and 11 buildings to the Mitre Rock Fire.

Altogether, more than 204,000 acres of tribal reservation land have burned this year alone.

These communities need our support now.

Follow The Rawhide Press and click to learn more about how you can help, from donations to supply drives to volunteer efforts: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/424aa1a

08/19/2026

📣 Community organizations: funding is available to help spread the word about health coverage!

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange wants to partner with community-based organizations during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15). Selected groups can get up to $10,000 to help their community learn about health and dental coverage options through Washington Healthplanfinder, plus the savings that come with it.

Priority goes to groups reaching communities at risk of losing coverage, folks facing access barriers like limited English, and communities not yet reached by current outreach.

⏰ Apply by Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Contact your county’s Navigator Lead Organization to get started. Swipe for the full county contact list.

Questions? Email [email protected].

08/14/2026

The Washington State Office of Equity feels heavy. Like many of you, our friends, family, and staff have been personally affected by the fires ravaging the state. The people of Washington have lost homes, businesses, community spaces, and parks.

We’ve pulled together resources to help. Visit the links below and swipe through for ways to find support, volunteer, get documents translated, or track fire activity near you.

Links:
🔥Wildfire Resources: https://waforall.wa.gov/pages/wildfire-resources
🤝Looking to help?: spokanecommunityresources.org
🧏‍♀️ Deaf / Hard of Hearing FAQ: dshs.wa.gov/altsa/odhh/telecommunication-equipment-distribution-ted-frequently-asked-questions
📉 Tracking the Fires: nifc.gov/fire-information

🌐 If you need translation help for fire resources, reach out to [email protected]. Availability is limited, but we want to help however we can.

Read the full newsletter for more, including how communities in Spokane are coming together right now: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/422d7ff