Meet us at the UW Monday, September 22!

We'll be tabling at the Affordable Health Care Volunteer Fair, sponsored by Washington Public Interest Research Group (WASHPirg)! We encourage you to stop by and chat with us and interested students - especially if you're an alum! See events at the bottom of this e.Bulletin for location details.

AND A SAVE-THE-DATE! - Sat, November 15 - HCFA-WA Annual Membership Meeting & Educational Conference via Zoom

The Legislature is between Sessions, but HCFA-WA members continue meeting with our Health Care Champions to discuss their plans and ours, and how we can support each other in the upcoming 2026 Legislative Session that begins in January.   We’ll report on our 2025 actions and reveal our 2026 Strategic Plan at our Nov. 15th Annual Meeting.  

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear from our featured speaker and learn about ways you can support our work.  This year’s event will be virtual only so you can join us from the comfort of your own home. Look for more details soon!

RSVP to stay in the loop!

Leveraging Digital Tools for Advocacy 

by HCFA-WA Board Member Ron Lovell

The Take Action Network (TAN) is a platform for legislative advocacy in Washington State, facilitating civic engagement in the legislative process.  Developed by Daniel Weise in collaboration with the Washington Indivisible Network (WIN), TAN represents a significant evolution in grassroots organizing, leveraging digital tools for advocacy.

In the 2025 legislative session HCFA-WA members used TAN to send 3,590 advocacy messages supporting increasing access to health care and moving forward on the pathway toward universal health care.

The Washington Indivisible Legislative Action (WILA) team involves 25 bill trackers from 13 different Indivisible groups.  During a recent legislative session, TAN users reported taking over 16,000 actions. TAN serves a coalition of progressive organizations, including:

•       Faith Action Network (FAN)
•       Environmental Priorities Coalition
•       Fair Vote Washington
•       Health Care for All-Washington
•       JUUstice Washington (JUUstWA)
•       Multiple Indivisible chapters across Washington.

TAN provides key services such as bill tracking alerts and other coordinated advocacy actions.  Users receive notifications for legislative actions and can express support or opposition on bills.  The platform offers training sessions to help users navigate effectively. 

Joining TAN is free and allows you to actively advocate for any legislation before the WA legislature. Use this link to join TAN today.

UHCC Advocates Roundtable: a Meeting of the Minds

by HCFA-WA Board Member Marcia Stedman

The August 5th Advocates Roundtable marked the first time in the Commission’s nearly 4-year existence that the Universal Health Care Commission engaged directly with universal health care advocates for an in-depth view of their vision and efforts for universal health care in Washington and how their organizations complement the efforts of other organizations. Some members attended remotely, as did most of the Finance Technical Advisory Committee.  Numerous members of the public attended both in person and remotely.

Commission Members and Legislators included Chair Vicki Lowe (American Indian Health Commission), Dave Iseminger (Healthcare Authority), Joan Altman (Washington Health Benefit Exchange), Sen. Annette Cleveland (Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee chair) , Rep. Joe Schmick, and Rep. Lisa Parshley.

Vision, Efforts, Complementary Strengths

Health Care for All-Washington (represented by Ronnie Shure and Marcia Stedman) was first formed in 1994 as the Washington Single Payer Action Network, ran an Initiative Campaign in 2000 (unsuccessful), and introduced Washington Health Security Trust (WHST) legislation from 2003-2018 before helping to create the Commission.   They support the Commission and its efforts with public comments and by developing and working for legislation that builds the infrastructure necessary for the success of the future universal system.

Washington Community Action Network /Health Care is a Human Right Coalition (represented by Nathan Rodke and John Godfrey) highlighted their role as a community-labor coalition with over 40 sponsoring members. They recently achieved a significant milestone when the Washington State Labor Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support of single-payer healthcare at their July 24th Convention, illustrating growing labor movement engagement.

Whole Washington (represented by Andre Stackhouse and Annie Fitzgerald) presented their comprehensive Washington Health Trust proposal, which includes a four-year transition plan and full public financing. They've collaborated extensively with the Commission, providing three presentations and receiving a partial analysis, with hopes for a completed revised analysis by year-end.

Northwest Health Law Advocates (represented by Emily Brice) brought a legal perspective, emphasizing healthcare as a public utility model. They focus on both advancing universal healthcare and serving as watchdogs to ensure rights are protected in any new system.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps:

• Possible continuing collaboration: Commissioners and facilitators expressed an interest in exploring how advocates and the Commission can work together to design a universally funded health care system that is affordable and accessible to all Washington residents. 
• Growing Labor Support: The overwhelming passage of the Labor Council resolution represents a significant shift in labor movement engagement with universal healthcare
• Urgency Recognition: All parties acknowledged the pressing timeline due to federal healthcare cuts
• Resource Coordination: Plans for better information sharing and collaborative outreach efforts
• Legislative Engagement: Potential for joint committee work sessions pending further coordination
• Public Education Priority: Recognition that broader public engagement is essential for advancing universal healthcare
• The Commission committed to working with advocacy organizations on improved public outreach and education efforts, while advocates pledged continued support for legislative education and community organizing.

View the Roundtable meeting materials

Watch the Roundtable recording

The next Universal Healthcare Commission meeting is scheduled for September 11th, from 2 - 5 pm, with plans to build on the collaborative approaches discussed during this inaugural roundtable session. Details available here closer to the date.

The next Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) Meeting is scheduled for September 18, from 2-4:30 pm. Details available closer to the date.

We encourage you to Sign up to provide public comment by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting occurs.

• We urge our members to push for a single payer plan in their public comments.

• Read our take on past UHCC and FTAC meetings

• Subscribe to Health Care Authority (HCA) for updates 

Jump to the blog for details on financing, labor movement engagement, public engagement and education, and urgency and timeline concerns.

Achieving Universal Health Care State-by-State: OPS 2025 National Meeting of UHC Advocates

On August 1 and 2, members and friends of One Payer States (OPS) held their 2025 National Meeting in Denver, CO. There were 34 attendees in-person and 60 online. This one and a half day meeting focused on achieving national guaranteed universal healthcare and organizing state by state to achieve that goal.  

More than 20 speakers covered a variety of topics, from how to talk with people who disagree with you, considerations for labor in state single-payer legislation, raising money to win, and how to pay for universal health care, plus much more including reports from the states.

View the list of speakers and their bios in the meeting announcement here. See bio links above the start of the group of speaker photographs.

The video, available here, is packed with information and well worth watching. To view video clips of topics you are most interested in, click on the timestamp after the topic. The link will take you to within a minute of the topic you have chosen.

2 QUICK ACTIONS TO HELP DEFEND AGAINST FEDERAL HEALTHCARE CUTS FROM H.R.1 

ACTION  #1 - SAVE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Community Health Centers (CHCs) across the country are saving lives and taxpayer money every day. Support the CHCs in Washington state by visiting their National Association’s website as they create a drumbeat about their value up to September 30, when federal funding expires.

Week of September 1: Health conditions 

Week of September 8: Populations served

Week of September 15: CHC partners

Week of September 22: The need for primary care

Week of September 29: What Congress can do

ACTION #2  - PRESERVE THE ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS  

Congress enhanced the tax credits that over 200,000 Washingtonians use to get health coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder. Small business owners, part-time and gig workers, middle-income families, early retirees, and young adults use tax credits to afford their health coverage. But these tax credits will expire at the end of the year unless Congress extends them soon. 

Tell your Members of Congress to protect health coverage for working families and stop these enhanced premium tax credits from expiring.

Learn more about these enhanced premium tax credits, and its implications for Washington state here.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION TO SAVE THE HEALTHCARE SAFETY NET!