September 12, 2023 By

Marcia Stedman, Communications Co-chair, Healthcare for All Washington

State-based SP organizations (state, national)

• Health Care for All-Washington, https://www.hcfawa.org/

• Whole Washington, http://www.wholewashington.org/

• Health Care is a Human Right Washington, http://www.healthcareisarightwa.org/

• PNHP Western Washington, https://www.pnhpwesternwashington.org/

State-based SP bills:

SB 5335 (2023) Developing the Washington Health Trust – did not advance, but is to be considered by the permanent Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC) as time and resources allow

SB 5399 (2021) – Creating the Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC) passed into law, establishing the permanent ongoing entity charged with designing Washington’s universally financed universal health care system, and recommending changes to address immediate needs and prepare for the transition to a unified health care financing system. It is now in its 2nd year.

2023 legislation preparing Washington for a universal health care system

WA 2023-2025 biennial budget includes funding for 2 important priorities:

• additional dedicated staff for the UHCC and Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) including actuaries to do financial modeling

• adequate support for the state’s Medicaid look-alike pilot program for Immigrant Health

SJM 8006 – Requesting that the federal government create a national universal health care program in one of three ways: either create a national universal health care program, pass California Rep. Ro Khanna’s State Based Universal Health Care Act HR 3775  (2021), or grant the Federal waivers that Washington needs to fully implement our own publicly funded universal health care system. Passed the Senate, but did not make it onto the House floor.

HB 1678  Establishing and authorizing the profession of dental therapy. Expands access to high quality and timely dental care where it is most out of reach: in rural communities, low-income communities and communities of color, and to patients who are publicly insured or uninsured.

HB 1134 Implementing the 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system. Expands and strengthens the state’s ability to implement the 988 crisis response system, and to create a crisis workforce through grants and regional trainings. This bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.

SB 5189 Establishing behavioral health support specialists. Requires that rules be developed to support a new behavioral health support specialist position, services are covered under Medicaid, and network coverage is ensured.  This bill also passed unanimously in both Chambers.

SB 5236 Concerning hospital staffing standards. Establishes minimum staffing, safety, and wellbeing standards for hospital professionals, regulated and enforced by the Dept. of Labor and Industry.

Obstacles to SP in the current context

• Lack of direction in the original UHCC legislation to drive the vision towards single payer.

• A perceived lack of alignment with the UHCC’s core mission by the state agency facilitating the meetings.

• Due to a lack of enforcement mechanisms, health industry executives fail to fully report their revenue and expenses to existing Boards. Bills intended to strengthen reporting requirements were prevented from advancing this year by strong health industry pushback.

  • HB 1508 Improving consumer affordability through the Health Care Cost Transparency Board.

  • HB 1269 Amending the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

Advantages for SP in the current context

• The Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC) and its Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) meetings are open to the public, with opportunities for public comment during the virtual meetings and in writing, and presentations from single-payer advocates in other states such as Oregon.

• One-third of the UHCC members are single-payer supporters.

• One FTAC member is a strong single-payer supporter with deep knowledge and experience in the state’s Medicaid program, and an active member of HCFA-WA’s Policy Committee.

• The capacity of the state single-payer organizations, listed above, to meet regularly and strategize together on messaging, organize public testimony, and publish recaps of each meeting to share with their members.

• Past work and present outreach by Washington advocacy organizations and the One Payer States network and its members who willingly share their experience and expertise with Washington

 Goals for SP movement in WA 2023-25

• Continue our active involvement with the UHCC and FTAC, urging them to consider the Washington Health Security Trust bill as a template for their recommended plan

• Continue working in coalition with other state single-payer advocates and groups and reporting on issues related to health care financing

• Re-introduce important bills that did not advance in the 2023 session

• Support HR 3775, CA Rep. Ro Khanna’s State Based Universal Health Care Act

• Push back against the privatization of Medicare

Where can people find news about Single Payer in your state and/or join a group?*

Health Care for All-Washington https://www.hcfawa.org/

Whole Washington  www.wholewashington.org

Health Care is a Human Right Washington Campaign  http://www.healthcareisarightwa.org/

PNHP Western Washington  https://www.pnhpwesternwashington.org/

For the full state report, including historical context, please see our Washington archive.