Clark County residents can learn about upcoming changes to Washington’s Medicaid program, also known as Apple Health, and connect with local resources during a free community event hosted by Columbia River Mental Health Services.
The Clark County Works Together event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at Fourth Plain Community Commons, 3101 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, some people enrolled in Apple Health for Adults will be required to work, train or participate in community engagement activities for 80 hours per month to remain eligible, with some exceptions. Adult enrollees will also need to renew their coverage every six months instead of annually. Retroactive coverage will be shortened from three months to one month for Apple Health for Adults and to two months for other Apple Health programs, according to the Washington State Health Care Authority.
A community panel will begin at 11 a.m., with representatives from the Washington State Health Care Authority, Molina Healthcare, Community Health Plan of Washington, Wellpoint and other community organizations available to answer questions and connect attendees with health-related resources, according to a Columbia River Mental Health Services press release.
“Changes to health coverage can be hard to understand and made even harder to navigate when people do not know where to go for reliable information,” Daniel Smith, CEO of Columbia River Mental Health Services, said in the release. “Our goal is to bring people, information, and resources together in one place so community members can better understand what may affect them and know where they can get help.”
The event is free and open to the public, with no registration required. Attendees can enjoy a complimentary light brunch and enter to win door prizes. Apple Health members, family members, caregivers, service providers and others who support people affected by the changes are encouraged to attend.
To learn more about upcoming changes to Apple Health, visit shorturl.at/dwP2f.
