Ensuring Equitable Access to Care for Washington’s Medicaid Patients

Washington state’s low Medicaid payment rates, combined with rising equipment and staffing costs, are making it increasingly hard for physicians to provide care to low-income patients. Doctors across the state are reporting patient risks and impacts, but because of the state’s inadequate reimbursement for services, physicians, practices, and medical groups cannot meet the need.

The Challenge We’re Facing

Nearly one out of every four Washington residents is on Medicaid—that’s almost 2 million people. Despite having insurance, the state effectively limits their access to health care by not paying the cost of care.

When the state doesn’t pay for the cost of the physician visit, this means that many clinics and medical groups cannot see all the Medicaid patients who need them.

Washington’s specialty Medicaid reimbursement rates are among the worst in the nation, and rising costs of labor and equipment are making the situation worse. Further, Washington has not increased reimbursement across-the-board for health care services in decades and we are falling further behind.

This is not an individual doctor-and-patient problem, it’s a problem with our state’s Medicaid payment system.

The Good News: The Medicaid Access Program

This is a systemic problem the state can solve. The best way to ensure that Medicaid recipients get the same expert medical care as everyone else is to increase reimbursement rates.

There is a way forward: The Washington State Medical Association has developed a solution: the Medicaid Access Program, a funding plan that will bring approximately $400 million per year in federal funding to Washington state. This new revenue will allow the state’s Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to increase reimbursements and allow physicians to treat more Medicaid patients.

During the 2025 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature will have the opportunity to pass the Medicaid Access Program and help ensure our state’s Medicaid enrollees have equitable access to care by supporting House Bill 1392.

We know this approach works: Physicians frequently cite low reimbursements as limiting their ability to see more Medicaid patients. Funding raised from the Medicaid Access Program in HB 1392 would align Medicaid payments with Medicare patients for all health care services, improving access for critical care such as cancer diagnosis, joint replacement, X-rays, and other necessary services.

The Medicaid Access Program’s funding proposal is supported by hundreds of individuals, health care organizations, and physician groups (a list of supporters is below). First introduced during the 2024 legislative session, the WSMA and affiliated groups have spent the past year working with state agencies, lawmakers, and other stakeholders to address their concerns and help ensure the proposal’s success during the 2025 legislative session, as lawmakers negotiate the state’s next biennial budget.

Here’s Pediatrician Beth Ebel, MD, on Why Washington Needs the Medicaid Access Program

Dr. Beth Ebel, president of the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, was interviewed by KOMO-TV’s Preston Phillips for ARC Seattle’s evening program, airing on Feb. 18, 2025. Dr. Ebel discusses why the physician community has united to urge the Legislature to pass the Medicaid Access Program in House Bill 1392, a funding plan proposed by the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) that will bring approximately $400 million per year in federal funding to Washington state and help increase access to primary and specialty services for our state’s children and adults.

What Doctors and Clinics Are Saying

How to Get Involved

Help support HB 1392 and the Medicaid Access Program by taking the following actions. Use the fact sheets and data on our Resources page to help your advocacy.

• Send a message to legislators.
• Submit an op-ed or letter to the editor to your local media outlet.
• Share your support with your staff, your colleagues, and your patients.
• Join our grassroots advocacy list for more information on opportunities for direct advocacy.

Health Care Organizations that Support the Medicaid Access Program

State Medical Associations

Washington State Medical Association
Washington Osteopathic Medical Association
Washington Academy of Physician Assistants
Washington State Healthcare Leaders Association

Public Health

Washington State Association Local Public Health Officers

State Specialty Societies

Northwest Academy of Otolaryngology
Pacific Northwest Society of Pathologists
Washington Academy of Family Physicians
Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Washington Chapter of the American College of Cardiology
Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians
Washington Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Washington Chapter of the American College of Physicians
Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons
Washington State Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Washington State Dermatology Association
Washington State Medical Oncology Society
Washington State Neurological Society
Washington State Orthopaedic Society
Washington State Psychiatric Association
Washington State Radiological Society
Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists
Washington State Society of Pathologists
Washington State Urology Society

County Medical Societies

Benton Franklin County Medical Society
Chelan-Douglas County Medical Society
Clark County Medical Society
King County Medical Society
Kitsap County Medical Society
Northwest Washington Medical Society
Pierce County Medical Society
Snohomish County Medical Society
Spokane County Medical Society
Thurston-Mason County Medical Society
Yakima County Medical Society

Clinics and Medical Groups

Allegro Pediatrics
Bellingham Advanced Medical Imaging
Bellingham Pediatric Therapy
Carol Milgard Breast Center
Catalyst Therapies
Emily Craig Counseling
ENT Associates
Evergreen Pediatrics
EvergreenHealth
Inland Imaging Associates, LLC
Kittitas Valley Healthcare
Medical Imaging Northwest
Mount Baker Imaging
Northwest Endovascular Surgery
Northwest Radiologists
Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants
Pacific Medical Centers
Proliance Surgeons
Providence Clinical Network, Eastern Washington-Montana Region
Providence Clinical Network, Puget Sound Region
Radia Imaging Center Holdings
Radia Inc.
Ryther
Skagit Digital Imaging
Skagit Radiology
South Sound Radiologists Inc.
Swedish Edmonds Radia
Tacoma Radiology
The Doctors Clinic
TRA Medical Imaging
Union Avenue Open MRI
UW Physicians
Vantage Radiology & Diagnostic Services
Vituity
Washington Managed Imaging
Washington Rheumatology Alliance
Wenatchee Valley Medical Group
Westsound Emergency Physicians