2025 Recap: Building Momentum for Kidney Health in the Northwest

As 2025 comes to a close, Northwest Kidney Council is reflecting on a year defined by meaningful dialogue, steady policy progress, and continued commitment to improving the lives of people impacted by kidney disease across the Northwest. While challenges remain, 2025 reinforced the value of showing up together for kidney disease patients and providers.

Council Conversations: Connecting Policy, Prevention, and Patient Experience

This year’s Council Conversations expanded beyond clinical care to examine the broader systems shaping kidney health. A standout discussion on nutrition, kidney health, and student success highlighted the role of free school meals as both a public health and health equity solution. Panelists Oregon State Representative Dr. Cyrus Javadi and Washington-based renal dietitian Lara Sokoloff, RD underscored how early access to nutritious meals can support kidney health outcomes well beyond the classroom. Throughout the conversation, a shared theme emerged: upstream investments in prevention, nutrition, and community supports are critical to improving kidney health statewide.

Legislative Advocacy: Progress with Purpose

In Oregon, NWKC joined a broad coalition of advocates to successfully protect Medicaid reimbursement rates, safeguarding access to care for thousands of patients who rely on Medicaid for dialysis and transplant-related services. While other priorities faced headwinds in Salem, the session built momentum and strengthened relationships with new partners essential for future progress in 2026.

In Washington, the 2025 session delivered mixed results. Lawmakers advanced important conversations around healthcare affordability and access, though several kidney-related priorities did not ultimately pass. Still, NWKC’s engagement ensured kidney patients remained part of the broader healthcare dialogue in Olympia. In addition, NWKC worked with a coalition to reduce by 50% a Medicaid rate cut scheduled to take effect 1/1/2026. Read our coalition letter here. This was a huge win for kidney disease patients and their providers.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we turn toward the year ahead, NWKC is focused on advancing policies that protect access to care, strengthen the kidney care workforce, and address health inequities for kidney disease patients and providers. Our 2026 Legislative Priorities outline the path forward and reflect the voices and needs of the kidney community, check it out here: NWKC 2026 Legislative Priorities