Medicaid Advocacy
In the 2025 legislative session, Washington lawmakers voted to decrease our state’s Medicaid / Apple Health budget to the Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) by one percent. In addition, the federal spending act signed on July 4, 2025, will significantly cut funding for Medicaid over the next 10 years.
Because of this, access to care is in jeopardy – and so is our ability as providers to serve our neighbors in need
This is deeply concerning, and that’s why we’re regularly meeting with our state lawmakers and U.S. representatives to urge them to create policy that will protect Medicaid, and in turn, our ability to continue providing vital behavioral health services to those who rely on us most.
How Medicaid Cuts Affect Washingtonians
Hurting Behavioral Health Organizations Hurts the Community
Shifting Costs to Other Response Systems
Limiting access to preventive mental health services will add pressures and costs to emergency services, law enforcement, schools, and hospitals – with worse outcomes for community members.
Administrative Burden
Helping individuals keep up with eligibility verifcation every six months adds administrative burden – forcing providers to add staff cosued on paperwork, not client care.
Cross-impact
Many clients are served by other programs designed to keep them housed, fed, and on the road to recovery and employment – and those programs are under threat, as well.
Hard Decisions Ahead
As the system squeezes providers even more, we will need to cut programs that consistently lose money – even if they are key elements of client care.
Timing of Federal Impacts
U.S. Congress has time to prevent the worst impacts to Medicaid – but work must begin now.
There is still time to act.
Fourfront Contributor is fighting every day to mitigate the harm to the populations we serve by advocating for the need for behavioral health organizations – and the Medicaid funding that makes our work possible.
Given the timeline for changes to the Medicaid program outlined in the reconciliation bill, there’s still time to undo or avoid devastating policy and funding provisions. Congress can help protect our community health system by proposing and voting to approve new legislation that has our communities’ best interests in mind. At the state level, we need our lawmakers and policy leaders at the Healthcare Authority (HCA) to support our state’s community behavioral health system.
While Fourfront Contributor continues to advocate for change at the legislative level, you can help, too. Contact state and federal leaders and let them know that community behavioral health is essential – and that protecting Medicaid must remain a priority. Stay informed by signing up for our newsletter below.
