BHT Legislative Day Update

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BHT had our first Legislative Day in Olympia on Jan 28. Executive Director, Alison Poulsen, and Board chair, Sharon Fairchild, were joined by BHT staff, Board members, and other partners from eight organizations in our region: SNAP, Empire Health Foundation, Excelsior, Northwest Rural Health Network, Spokane Regional Health District, Volunteers of America, Pend Oreille County commissioner, and Ideal Option.

The team met with Senators and Representatives to spotlight BHT’s work building partnerships and investing in our provider community, and to share policy areas we’re paying attention to. Over the course of the day, we met with representatives from across the BHT region. We also met with Director Sue Birch and her team at HCA and with Governor Inslee’s health policy advisors.

Thank you to the following legislators who took time during Potato Day to meet with our group:

  1. Representative Joe Schmick (9th Legislative District)

  2. Senator Andy Billig (3rd Legislative District)

  3. Representative Marcus Riccelli (3rd Legislative District)

  4. Representative Jacquelin Maycumber (7th Legislative District)

  5. Senator Judy Warnick (13th Legislative District)

  6. Senator Shelly Short (7th Legislative District)

  7. Representative Timm Ormsby (3rd Legislative District)

The experience was a great one for the whole team. The BHT Public Policy Committee will develop next steps based on what we learned and shared.