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Ruby de Luna

Reporter

About

Ruby de Luna is a reporter with a focus on food and how it intersects with health, communities, and culture. She has also reported on health care and immigrant communities.

Ruby is a transplant from Taipei, Taiwan. She holds a B.A. in communication from Seattle Pacific University. She is proud to be one of the few old-schoolers who can edit tape with a razor blade.

Location: Seattle

Languages: English, Conversational Mandarin, Tagalog

Pronouns: she/her

Professional Affiliations: Member, AAJA

Stories

  • Untitled

    Tacoma Public Housing To Become Smoke-Free

    Tacoma’s public housing is becoming completely smoke-free.  Right now residents can’t smoke in common areas.  But beginning March 1, 2013 residents won’t be allowed to smoke in their apartments.  The ban also includes outdoor areas like patios and balconies. The agency’s executive director says the decision was driven by health concerns from secondhand smoke and fire risks.  There are financial costs, too.  The price of insurance and clean-up are expensive.  The agency has also teamed up with the local health department and with Tobacco Free Alliance of Pierce County to offer help to residents who want to quit smoking.The Tacoma Housing Authority joins other public housing agencies around the country to ban smoking.  Seattle Housing Authority’s no-smoking policy took effect in February.

  • Washington State To Cover Autism Therapy For Medicaid Kids

    Low-income parents will soon have a way to get treatment for their children with autism. Starting in January, Washington state will cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for kids with Medicaid coverage. The new benefit is part of a legal settlement between the state and a local advocacy group for children with autism.

  • How Will The Next Washington Governor Shape Medicaid?

    Whoever is elected as governor this fall could change the course of Washington state's Medicaid program. When the US Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Care Act in June, it determined that the law went too far when it required states to expand Medicaid. The ruling left it up to states to decide whether or not to open up the program to cover people without insurance.

  • Untitled

    Washington Unveils New Name For Health Insurance Marketplace

    Washington’s Health Exchange now has a formal name. It’s called “Washingtonhealthplanfinder.” The online program was designed to help people shop for individual or small group coverage. It will allow them to compare plans, and to see if they qualify for financial assistance. But it’s not live yet. The site is still under construction.  State officials hope to have the program up and running by next fall. They’re still deciding what kinds of plans will be sold.You can follow the Exchange's progress, and learn more about it.