Category: CurrentNews

When the Cost of Medicine Becomes an Impossible Choice

Posted on May 4, 2026 by - CurrentNews, OurImpact, Uncategorized

“Growing up in poverty, I watched my mother struggle to get healthcare. That’s why I want to make sure it’s available to everyone.” — Lisa Nelson, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Unity Care NW

Unity Care NW (UCNW) is a nonprofit community health center serving Whatcom County. Last year our pharmacy served more than 7,800 patients. Nearly 1,000 of them struggle to afford their medications due to high deductibles, co-pays, or lack of insurance. When that happens, UCNW’s community supported Extend-A-Hand program steps in, making sure that cost is never the reason someone goes without the medicine they need.

 

Smiling pharmacy technician hands a prescription to a patient across a counter in a pharmacy

Our neighbors are struggling more than ever

According to United Way of Whatcom County, 45% of local households are living below the ALICE basic survival budget (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed), higher than both the Washington State average (38%) and the national average (42%). These are working people, our friends and neighbors, who sometimes have to choose between filling a prescription and keeping the lights on.

And the situation is becoming more urgent. Enhanced Premium Tax Credits under the Affordable Care Act expired at the end of 2025, leaving many people who don’t qualify for Medicaid facing insurance premiums they simply can’t afford. For some, that means going uninsured altogether — one unexpected illness or prescription away from a crisis.

 

How Extend-A-Hand works

The Extend-A-Hand program at Unity Care NW is a safety net for when everything else has been exhausted.  When a patient is unable to afford their prescriptions, UCNW’s team works with them through every available option first. The program also helps patients who are between insurances or need a one-time prescription that their plan won’t cover.

It’s a practical, caring approach — and it has been highly effective.

Help to breathe again
An elderly patient was unable to afford inhalers and had made multiple trips to the emergency as a result. Extend-A-Hand covered the cost of their medications. Now they are able breath freely again.

Relief from cancer pain
Some patients fall into what’s known as the “donut hole”, making just enough to be disqualified from public assistance programs, but not enough to actually afford their care. One patient living with pancreatic cancer was at 97% of the federal poverty level, making them ineligible for certain support, yet still unable to afford prescription copayments. Extend-A-Hand was there to cover the cost of pain medications as they worked through cancer treatments.

 

Community stepping up for communityshelves of prescriptions line the wall of a pharmacy

Whatcom Community Foundation, Chuckanut Health Foundation, and generous local individuals have all recently stepped up to support UCNW’s Extend-A-Hand because they understand that access to medication isn’t a luxury. It’s a foundation for everything else in a person’s life.

“Extend-A-Hand is about meeting people where they are — with dignity, compassion, and practical support when it matters most. It reflects the very best of Whatcom County: neighbors showing up for neighbors.” Said Janis Evans-Obregon, Vice President of Impact, Whatcom Community Foundation.

“At Chuckanut Health Foundation, we believe no one in Whatcom County should have to choose between groceries and the medication that keeps them well. Extend-A-Hand meets people at that exact moment, when every other option has run out, and Unity Care NW shows up. That is the kind of care we want to stand behind. This year, more than ever, we are committed to our local healthcare organizations and the people they serve. Whether you need care or you provide it, we are with you, and we will keep doing the work of making healthcare access real for everyone in this community.” Said Heather Flaherty, Executive Director, Chuckanut Health Foundation.

Every fall, The Bellingham Herald partners with UCNW and Opportunity Council to raise funds and awareness for Extend-A-Hand, inviting the broader community to be part of the solution. Near the end of last year, North Sound ACH provided a much needed boost to the program, along with an anonymous Donor Advised Fund from Whatcom Community Foundation, as funds became scarce.

You can help, too.
When income is tight, families are faced with impossible choices like deciding between paying for groceries medication. The Extend-A-Hand program makes sure your neighbors can afford both.

Support Extend-A-Hand, make a donation here.

 

Standing Up for Our Patients

Posted on April 2, 2026 by - CurrentNews, OurImpact

Unity Care NW’s 2026 Advocacy Work

When decisions made far from Whatcom County threaten the health of our neighbors, we stand up. This is a brief look at what we’ve been working on in 2026 so far — and why it matters for the patients and community we serve.

The Landscape: Our Patients Are Facing Real Pressure

The United States Capitol building with the sun peeking behind the dome

Unity Care NW’s Public Policy team visits Washington D.C. every year to meet with community health center staff from around the country and to advocate with law makers on behalf of our patients.

Unity Care NW’s Public Policy team visits Washington D.C. every year to meet with community health center staff from around the country and to advocate with law makers on behalf of our patients. The policy environment your neighbors are navigating right now is complicated and consequential. Here is what we are seeing on the ground in Whatcom County.

  • Federal legislation (H.R. 1) eliminated the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that helped many working families afford health coverage. Patients who had insurance are now losing it or facing premiums they simply cannot pay. In October 2025, Unity Care NW hosted a roundtable with Rep. Rick Larsen where patients spoke directly about the impossible choices ahead: food, rent, or health care.
  • Starting in September 2026, approximately 2,700 Unity Care NW patients will receive letters requiring them to prove they work or volunteer 80 hours a month. Those who cannot will risk losing Medicaid coverage. They will also be required to reapply every six months instead of annually. For patients managing chronic illness, disability, or unstable housing, this is a significant and stressful burden.
  • At a time when ICE enforcement actions were making national and local news, we saw a measurable drop in patients seeking care at our clinics whose health needs are best served in a language other than English. Fear is a barrier to care, and we are concerned about what this means for health outcomes in our community.

“I was laid off, lost all benefits including healthcare. The 3 month lay-off is now 1 year. I would have been lost without these services.” – UCNW Patient

What We’ve Done About It

Federal Advocacy with Sen. Patty Murray

Unity Care NW senior leadership met with U.S. Senator Patty Murray in late 2025 to share our concerns about proposed cuts to the federally qualified community health center program. In her role as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Murray worked in a bipartisan capacity to secure $8.9 billion in Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) funding in February, an increase of $415 million that included $1.9 billion for health centers. While we continue to assess how this will directly benefit Unity Care NW’s patients, this investment in the community health center infrastructure we rely on represents a meaningful victory for safety-net health care nationally.

Protecting the Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit

In December 2025, Governor Ferguson’s proposed budget included a change to the state’s Medicaid pharmacy benefit that would have cost Washington’s nonprofit community health centers more than $100 million annually, while saving the state only $7.5 million. For Unity Care NW, this would have weakened our ability to stretch every dollar to serve patients who depend on us.

We responded with a coordinated campaign that included:

  • Our Chief Pharmacy Officer, Dr. Lisa Nelson, PharmD, traveling to Olympia alongside the Washington Association of Community Health to meet directly with lawmakers and explain the human cost of this proposal at a moment when patients are already absorbing the loss of ACA subsidies.
  • A letter to the editor in Cascadia Daily News, making the case clearly that weakening 340B won’t fix Washington’s budget, but it will hurt Medicaid patients in Whatcom County.
  • CEO Jodi Joyce testifying to the Legislature, urging lawmakers to reject the proposal to protect patient access and community health.

“Unity Care NW serves 1 in 10 Whatcom County residents and increasingly acts as a last line of access for people experiencing homelessness or managing complex medical conditions. At a moment of federal uncertainty, state leaders should be protecting community-based solutions that work.” — Dr. Lisa Nelson, Chief Pharmacy Officer

A Historic Win: Washington’s First-Ever 340B State Pharmacy Bill

A diverse group of people stand together behind a podium with the Washington state seal on it

Governor Ferguson signs Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5981 – March 25, 2026. Relating to protecting the integrity of the 340B drug pricing program.

On March 25, 2026, Governor Ferguson signed SB 5981 into law and Unity Care NW played a central role in making it happen.

This first-of-its-kind state bill, developed in partnership with Representative Thai of Bellevue, stops drug manufacturers from undermining the federal 340B program through contract pharmacy limitations. Many of our patients rely on contract pharmacies because they don’t live near a clinic or face transportation barriers. SB 5981

ensures those patients don’t lose access to their medications because of behind-the-scenes policy changes by pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Lisa Nelson and our public policy staff advocated extensively with lawmakers throughout the session. The result is a law that protects continuity of care for low-income, uninsured, tribal, and HIV patients across Washington state. It also models what community-driven safety-net advocacy can achieve.

Why This Work Is Part of Who We Are

Unity Care NW exists because everyone deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life — regardless of their income, immigration status, insurance, or ZIP code.

The year ahead will require us to stay engaged. We will continue to stand with our patients, to speak on their behalf, and to be here, for everyone.

When Words Aren’t Enough

Posted on March 24, 2026 by - CurrentNews, OurImpact, Uncategorized

How Art and Play Are Helping Whatcom County Children Heal

paper masks a large box of markers colored pencils coloring books and modeling clay sit on a tabletop

Paints, markers, clay, pastels, coloring books – are just a few of the tools that children will have access to in order to share their thoughts and feelings.

Every child deserves the opportunity to feel safe, understood, and hopeful. For many young children navigating big emotions like worry, fear, or the weight of difficult experiences, finding the words to express these feelings can feel impossible. That’s why our new Children’s Play and Art Therapy program is bringing a gentle, proven approach to healing to our youngest patients. Thanks to local supporters at Women Sharing Hope, the program recently launched right here in Whatcom County.

When a child picks up a crayon or loses themselves in imaginative play, something remarkable can happen. Art and play give children a natural, developmentally appropriate way to express what they can’t yet say out loud. This innovative effort engages young patients and their parents by using creativity to explore emotions, improve self-esteem, and develop coping skills. When verbalizing feelings is challenging, art, play, and visual expression help to bridge this gap to move towards healing.

As the American Counseling Association explains, play therapy is far more than “just” playing — it’s a structured, theoretically grounded practice that helps children express their feelings, assume responsibility for their behaviors and develop problem-solving skills. Our Child & Family Counselors are thrilled to bring this program to Whatcom County families.

“Children often lack the words to express their feelings, so they use drawing and play to communicate and connect,” says Ashley Carter, LMHC, Unity Care NW Child and Family Counselor Lead.

 

Toys being placed in a sandbox for children to use to express their emotions

Ashley Carter, LMHC, Child and Family Counselor Lead, and Tessa Fulfer, LMHCA, Child & Family Counselor, demonstrate how sand tray therapy can be used to allow patients to show their feelings rather than articulate them.

Our program is offered through our health centers in Bellingham and Ferndale as well as at selected local schools. This year, the program is expected to reach 50-70 children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Children are selected by our Child & Family Counselors based on who would most benefit from this approach to therapy. More than 95% of participating children receive care through Medicaid.

None of this could have happened without the generosity of Women Sharing Hope, an all-volunteer local non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting women and children in Whatcom County. “I am so grateful to Women Sharing Hope for making this program possible and for helping us bring healing through art and play to our community,” says Tessa Fulfer, LMHCA, Unity Care NW Child and Family Counselor. Through the partnership, they funded a full year’s worth of supplies and resources for the program.

 

 

 

Meebie Has Feelings toy being given an expression to represent an emotional state.

Tessa demonstrates the different emotions and feelings that can be displayed using this expressive toy.

“When WSH was contacted about supporting this new program, we recognized how it could assist children in their early development. Art and play therapy can improve communication, provide practice for cooperation and peer interaction skills plus foster self-awareness. Such therapy activities at an early age do contribute to future success. In sharing our community funding, we look for very specific needs with measurable outcomes.

This program inspired us with its organization, staff availability and goals. The new space is so appealing. UCNW accomplished a lot with a small budget. We are thrilled that such a large number of children will be benefitting immediately and with such tender care.”

– Linda Bergsma, charity research committee chair for Women Sharing Hope

 

When people come together around the needs of children, real change happens. To support programs like this one or learn more about our work with children and families across Whatcom County contact us at development@uncw.org.

 

A colorful play therapy room for children with a table and chairs a doll house that sits in the corner and a purple plushie rests on a bean bag chair

One of Unity Care NW’s Behavioral Health rooms has been transformed into an immersive art and play therapy space thanks to Women Sharing Hope.

 

Whatcom Community Foundation: 30 Years of Making a Difference

Posted on March 23, 2026 by - CurrentNews, Uncategorized

We’re fortunate to have partners who believe, as we do, that the people in our communities deserve to thrive, not just get by. Our relationship with Whatcom Community Foundation is one of those partnerships. For three decades, the Community Foundation has worked alongside local nonprofits, donors, and neighbors to strengthen the fabric of Whatcom County. Through philanthropy, collaboration, and innovation, they’ve helped direct resources where they’re needed most — from food security and housing to health and the arts.  The results: a region that is more connected, more resilient, and more hopeful because of their work.

A New Chapter: Whatcom Together
To celebrate their 30th birthday, Whatcom Community Foundation is taking local philanthropy to a new level by launching Whatcom Together. This initiative dedicates pools of funding to specific areas across Whatcom County — and then puts the decision-making power directly in the hands of the people who live there.

Community members vote for the top three issues that matter most to them. Funds are then put to work at organizations and gathering places in their neighborhoods such as food banks, churches, arts organizations, libraries, and parks.

It’s local philanthropy at its most personal and a powerful example of the Community Foundation’s belief that the people closest to a problem are often the best equipped to solve it.

Why This Partnership Matters to Us
At Unity Care NW, we know that health is about more than what happens inside a provider’s office.  Research consistently shows that social connection is one of the most important predictors of long-term health. When people feel seen, supported, and connected, they live longer and healthier lives. Whatcom Com munity Foundation shares that understanding, believing that our deepest wellbeing lies in connection, and that those connections start close to home. That’s why we’re proud and grateful to have them as a long-time partner and a Health Care Champion Sponsor.

Your Voice Shapes What’s Next
Thank you Whatcom Community Foundation for joining us in a shared vision of health and unity.

Clickable video thumbnail Whatcom Together

Puget Sound Energy Is Helping Prevent Wildfires — Here’s How You Can Too

Posted on March 1, 2026 by - CurrentNews

Forest fire burns out of control on wooded mountain as wind blows it through the pine trees

Every summer, as skies over the Pacific Northwest begin to haze over and the smell of smoke drifts into our neighborhoods, many of us feel the same quiet worry: What can we do?

The good news is, there is a lot we can do. And we don’t have to do it alone.

In recognition of National Wildfire Awareness Month this May, we are shining a light on one of our steadfast community partners, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a Health Care Champion Sponsor of Unity Care NW. PSE isn’t just keeping the lights on, they’re working year-round to protect the places and people we all care about most.

What PSE Is Doing Behind the Scenes

Wildfires don’t start themselves. In fact, human activities are the leading cause of wildfires in Washington State, which means human action can also prevent them. PSE

takes that responsibility seriously through their full Wildfire Risk Management Program, a year-round effort that includes:

Keeping trees and power lines from becoming a dangerous pair. When vegetation grows too close to power lines, it can lead toPSE logo potential hazards such as creating a spark. PSE’s Vegetation Management teams inspects and trims trees along 3,000 miles of power lines each year, including over 1,000 miles of lines in high wildfire risk areas, removing hazardous trees and brush before they become a problem.

Upgrading the infrastructure that powers our homes. PSE is continually replacing aging equipment, installing specially coated “tree wire” to reduce the risk of sparks, and undergrounding power lines.

Watching the weather. During summer months, PSE monitors real-time weather conditions and may operate the grid more conservatively. When fire danger is at its highest, they may activate Enhanced Powerline Settings (EPS) or a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), to help keep customers and communities safe.

How You Can Help Protect Our Community This Season

Community safety is something we build together. Here are a few simple steps you can take right now to do your part:

A video thumbnail for a Public Safety Power Shutoff video

Want to find out more? Click the play button to watch a short video from PSE to learn what Public Safety Power Shutoff is and how it works.

We’re Stronger Together

At Unity Care NW we believe that healthy communities are built on exactly this kind of care. PSE’s commitment to wildfire prevention reflects what we know to be true: when we work together, we protect not just our homes, but the health and wellbeing of everyone who lives here.

This May, we’re asking you to do one small thing: share this information with a neighbor, friend or family member. The smoke from wildfires affects us all and it will take all of us to prevent them too.

Thank you, Puget Sound Energy, for being a true partner in keeping our skies clear and our communities safe. To learn more, visit pse.com/wildfire.

Unity Care NW Announces CEO Jodi Joyce’s Planned Retirement

Posted on February 11, 2026 by - CurrentNews, Uncategorized

A group of men and women in suits smile proudly inside a room

Jodi at The Way Station ribbon cutting ceremony in 2024.

After six years of dedicated service, Unity Care NW announces that CEO Jodi Joyce will retire later this year. Jodi joined Unity Care NW just one month before the COVID-19 pandemic began and has led the organization through one of the most challenging and transformative periods in health care.

Under Jodi’s leadership, Unity Care NW experienced significant growth, expanding care 26% to 24,750 patients annually, strengthening services, and deepening its role as a trusted safety-net provider in Whatcom County. During her tenure, the organization significantly strengthened its financial position, achieving a 7% growth in net income, a 45% increase in annual revenue, and a 61% growth in fund balance and assets. Through disciplined financial management and strategic growth, Unity Care NW is now well positioned for long-term sustainability and continued investment in its mission — to increase the years of healthy life in the people and communities they serve.

Jodi also led major organizational modernization efforts, including the successful transition to Epic electronic medical record (EMR) software. This system upgrade significantly improved care coordination and information-sharing across providers in the region, supporting more integrated, patient-centered care.

Jodi volunteering in Unity Care’s vaccine clinic, personally administering vaccines alongside clinical staff.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jodi led Unity Care NW’s response while overseeing the rollout of a large-scale vaccination effort that served both patients and the broader community. To date, Unity Care NW has administered 17,860 COVID-19 vaccines, helping protect thousands of community members. As a registered nurse, Jodi also volunteered directly in Unity Care’s vaccine clinic, personally administering vaccines alongside clinical staff.

Jodi’s tenure also included the opening of The Way Station Health & Hygiene Center, a first-of-its-kind facility in Whatcom County providing essential health, hygiene, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness — an important milestone in Unity Care NW’s commitment to health equity.

In addition, Jodi guided the development and implementation of Unity Care NW’s current
strategic plan, which centers on three core priorities: Enhancing and Expanding Patient Services, Strengthening the Organization’s Business Model, and Maximizing Resources and Facilities to support long-term sustainability and growth.

“Being a part of Unity Care NW has been a true honor and the highlight of my career,” Joyce said. “I have never worked with such a strong group of values-driven, mission-oriented individuals so deeply committed to serving with compassion and excellence.”

The Unity Care NW Board of Directors has begun a thoughtful leadership transition process. The Board’s Executive Committee is forming a CEO Search Committee, supported by HR Director Danielle Crim and local HR consultant Kara Turner. The search is expected to take approximately four to six months.

A group of six people stand in front of a building with their feet positioned on top of shovels in a a pile of soil

Left to right: County Executive Satpal Sidhu, Representative Rick Larsen, Jodi Joyce, Senator Sharon Shewmake, Greg Winter and Rachel Lucy at The Way Station’s Groundbreaking Ceremony in 2023.

“While the Board will miss Jodi’s leadership,” Unity Care NW Board President, Jennifer Moldver said, “we fully support her decision to retire. Over the past six years, Jodi has guided Unity Care NW through a period of significant challenge and transformation, strengthening the organization and leaving it in a very strong financial position, well positioned for the future.”

While the search takes place, Joyce will remain fully engaged in her role, partnering closely with Unity Care NW’s leadership and staff to advance organizational priorities and ensure a smooth transition.

“Over this period of time, I look forward to partnering with our leaders and teams on our priorities, to ensure Unity Care NW is ‘ship shape’ as a new leader comes onboard,” Joyce shared.

“Unity Care’s future is bright, and I am incredibly grateful to have played a role in its latest chapter.”

 

New Survey Highlights Need for Children’s Health Care in WA

Posted on February 10, 2026 by - CurrentNews, OurImpact, Uncategorized

A recent survey from the Washington State Department of Health reveals critical insights about young children’s health and well-being in our state. The survey, which focuses on families with children ages 6 months to 5 years, provides one of the most comprehensive statewide snapshots of early childhood and family well-being in Washington — and the findings show both encouraging strengths and concerning gaps in healthcare access.

“The Child Wellness Survey gives us insight into how young families in Washington are finding their way in a changing and often difficult world,” said Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, State Health Officer.

 

Children receive comprehensive care at Unity Care NW, including specialized Dental and Behavioral Health services to help in their development of resilience and problem-solving skills.

Key Findings: Family Strengths

The results show most Washington families with young children report high levels of problem-solving and resilience and generally believe their children are healthy:

  • About 98% of children live in families that find ways to navigate challenges.
  • About 95% of children live in families that feel able to solve problems.
  • 91% of caregivers rate their child’s health as excellent or very good.

 

 

Key Findings: Ongoing Challenges

At the same time, the survey highlights significant barriers affecting families:

  • About 20-30% of families report having unmet basic needs such as housing, food, and transportation.
  • About 25% of families needing healthcare referrals for their children reported difficulties getting them.
  • About 25% of families lack access to the childcare they need.

“The findings show young families in Washington are navigating challenges while supporting their children,” said Maayan Simckes, PhD, MPH, DOH’s Population Survey Supervisor. “They also underscore the crucial role that safe and resilient families, neighborhoods, and communities play when times get tough.”

 

How Unity Care NW Supports Whatcom County Families

As a community health center providing healthcare to everyone regardless of their ability to pay, Unity Care NW is part of the safety net that supports families through the foundational years of their children’s lives. Our patients receive comprehensive care — including Pharmacy and specialized children’s Dental services — all in one location. Programs like Behavioral Health and Case Management help develop the resilience and problem-solving skills highlighted in the survey.

 

How You Can Help

Maintaining Washington’s strong network of community health centers is essential to keeping our state’s children healthy and helping their families navigate challenges. You can make a difference in two important ways:

Make a gift to Unity Care NW today to ensure that children with unmet healthcare needs in Whatcom County can stay healthy and get the care they need when challenges arise.

Contact your state lawmakers and urge them to maintain the Medicaid pharmacy benefit as it exists today to save the healthcare safety net that families depend on. Find your lawmakers here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder

Together, we can ensure every child in Whatcom County has access to the healthcare they need to thrive.

Qualifying for Apple Health: Medicaid Updates

Posted on January 14, 2026 by - CurrentNews, Uncategorized

With changes coming to Medicaid at the federal level, you might be wondering about qualifying for Apple Health or your Apple Health eligibility in 2026. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Unity Care NW is proud to be part of the largest primary care network in the country, serving everyone who seeks care regardless of ability to pay. While the Apple Health landscape in 2027 is still taking shape, at Unity Care NW, we are more committed than ever to helping our patients access care and support.

Apple Health, Washington state’s Medicaid program, remains a vital resource for individuals and families in Whatcom County. While Apple Health updates are sure to come for 2026, it will continue to offer comprehensive health coverage that helps local individuals and families access to our medical, dental, behavioral health, and preventive services so that they can live healthy, productive lives.

Apple Health Updates: What Will Not Change

No matter what Medicaid updates or changes to Apple Health are coming our way, the core principle of the program will remain the same: It will continue to offer a wide range of free or low-cost services for those who qualify for Apple Health. For 2026, these will include:

  • Primary and preventive care
  • Hospital and emergency services
  • Mental health treatment
  • Dental and vision care
  • Prescription medications
  • Maternity and postpartum care
  • Transportation to medical appointments

Those who qualify for Apple Health plans pay no monthly premiums and have minimal out-of-pocket costs for covered services, making it an essential support for often underserved members of our community.

2026 Apple Health Income Limits and Eligibility

Apple Health eligibility is determined by household income, family size, and other factors, with limits that are updated annually. Income limits for 2026 will be updated in April. We do not know what income limits will be.

Currently, the approximate monthly Apple Health income limits were:

  • 1 person: as much as $1,900 per month
  • 2 people: as much as $2,600 per month
  • 3 people: as much as $3,300 per month
  • 4 people: as much as $4,000 per month

Are you pregnant or do you have children?  You can qualify at higher Apple Health income levels, and additional Apple Health programs exist for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

If you need help figuring out whether you qualify for Apple Health, we’re here for you. Unity Care NW’s enrollment specialists can explain the eligibility rules and help you with your application.

Maintaining Your Apple Health Eligibility and Coverage During Medicaid Changes

To keep your Apple Health active, you must renew your Apple Health each year. People enrolled in Apple Health will be sent renewal reminders. Responding right away will help ensure your Apple Health eligibility and coverage will stay active without any gaps.

If you move, change your phone number, or have updates to your income, report these changes right away. Unity Care NW’s enrollment specialists are available to help with Apple Care updates, renewals, and any application questions. Contact us with questions or concerns about Apple Care qualifications and eligibility.

What About WA Cares? Is it Apple Health? Not Exactly

Beginning in 2026, those who qualify can access WA Cares, the nation’s first public long-term-care insurance program. WA Cares provides financial support for services such as home care or assisted living.

While separate from Apple Health, WA Cares complements existing benefits for Washington residents planning for future care needs, operating in tandem with Apple Health as another important step toward comprehensive access to  health coverage in Washington state.

Apple Health Eligibility is Access to Health Care

At Unity Care NW, we believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable, compassionate, and comprehensive health care. Our enrollment specialists help patients determine their Apple Health qualifications, renew coverage, and stay informed about Medicaid changes and Apple Health eligibility updates.

Unity Care NW patients can speak with an enrollment specialist by calling (360) 788-2669 or by requesting an appointment online.

Where to Find Food & Meals

Posted on November 4, 2025 by - CurrentNews, Uncategorized

Click for local food resources

If you or someone you know needs help finding food, visit the Whatcom Food & Meal Guide for up-to-date information on local food banks and meal programs in multiple languages:

👉 Whatcom Food & Meal Guide

🌟 Holiday Food & Meal Guide

—

Anyone in a position to help, may consider making a financial donation to the Bellingham Food Bank or another food pantry in Whatcom County. Cash donations go further than donations of food because it helps Food Banks buy food in bulk at a significant discount and meet the most urgent community needs more efficiently. You can give to the largest food bank in Whatcom county at bellinghamfoodbank.org.

Whether through giving or by sharing these resources, together we can help make sure everyone in our community has enough to eat.

Colon Cancer Screening

Posted on November 1, 2025 by - CurrentNews, Uncategorized

Take Care of Yourself: Get Checked for Colon Cancer

At Unity Care NW, we’re here to help you stay healthy for the long run. That means getting the right screenings at the right time. A colon cancer screening is one of the smartest steps you can take to protect your health.

Why it matters

Colon cancer often starts small and grows slowly but it can be stopped in its tracks if it’s caught early. Screening tests can find and remove small growths (polyps) before they turn into cancer. They can also detect cancer early, when treatment works best.

Most adults should start regular screening at age 45 and repeat it every 10 years if no problems are found. If you have a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend starting earlier or testing more often.

Think of this as a way to invest in your future — so you can keep showing up for the people and activities that matter most to you.

Get It Done Before the Year’s Over

Don’t put it off. Colon cancer screening might not sound fun, but it’s a quick, important step that could save your life.

Where to Schedule

NW Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Center
3111 Woburn Street, Bellingham, WA 98226
📞 (360) 734-1420
Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Gastroenterology at PeaceHealth Cordata Main Clinic
4545 Cordata Pkwy, Suite 1B, Bellingham, WA 98226
📞 (360) 752-5216
Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Self-Care Bonus
If you have a Managed Care Plan, such as CHPW or Molina, check your plan’s website — you may be eligible for a gift card when you complete certain screenings.