Blog
July FTAC Meeting: Cost sharing is not the way!
July 31, 2024
Finance Technical Advisory Committee recap: Why cost sharing is not the way to lower the cost of health care By Consuelo Echeverria Once again, the Finance Technical Advisory Committee is off track. Rather than choose a benefit design from the many models that already exist...
Read MoreJune UHCC Meeting: Administrative Simplification Round 3: Health Insurance Plans vs. the Rest of Us
June 27, 2024
At its June meeting, the Universal Health Care Commission again tackled the topic of Administrative Simplification, this time hearing from a panel of 3 providers and 1 insurance executive. The presentations reinforced what members of the public have been telling the Commission for years...
Read MoreMay FTAC Meeting: How does a health plan figure out the cost of its product?
May 31, 2024
by Consuelo Echeverria This month, the Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) dove into a consideration of how much it costs Washington state to deliver health care.
Read MoreApril UHCC Meeting: Washington's long & winding road to Universal Health Care
April 25, 2024
is still long and winding . . . By Marcia Stedman At its April meeting, the Commission continued moving with all deliberate speed toward its goal of designing a universal health care system for Washington, while focussing mainly on making immediate improvements in health...
Read MoreMarch FTAC Meeting: Our Advocacy is Paying Off!
March 28, 2024
By Consuelo Echeverria Our advocacy is paying off! This was the first time we heard the members really engage in substantial discussion. The presentation of Whole Washington’s WA Health Trust triggered a substantial discussion on steps to universal health care, its feasibility, cost and...
Read MoreFebruary UHCC Meeting Recap
February 28, 2024
The Universal Health Care Commission Needs a Reboot by Marcia Stedman In a state where a majority of voters supports a universal healthcare system, Washington is not well-served by its Universal Health Care Commission. At its February meeting, the Commission once again punted on its...
Read MoreQ & A on 2SSB 5399, the Universal Health Care Commission
February 27, 2024
By Elaine Cox and Sarah Weinberg, MD Q: Where did this UHC Commission (UHCC) idea come from? A: The final report of the Universal Health Care Work Group was sent to the legislature on January 15, 2021. It created a commission to spearhead the...
Read MoreDecember UHCC & January FTAC Meetings
February 27, 2024
Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) Meeting Jan, 2024 By Consuelo Echeverria The first FTAC meeting of 2024 was underwhelming. The role of the FTAC is to answer the Universal Health Care Commission’s (UHCC) questions. This month, the question was to make recommendations on an...
Read MoreNovember FTAC Recap: Can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear
November 21, 2023
By Consuelo Echeverria In Nov, the FTAC addressed the UHCC request to focus on Coverage/Enrollment with an in-depth explanation of how Medicaid works in WA and potential opportunities for Medicaid under a universal health care system. While Medicaid in WA certainly is trying to...
Read More2nd Wednesday Speaker Series Spotlight on Immigrant Health
November 21, 2023
By Ron Lovell In November’s Second Wednesday Speaker Series, Sasha Wasserstrom, Policy Director at Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), the largest immigrant-led coalition in Washington state. Sasha highlighted the coverage and gaps of the landmark 1332 waiver that provides health care for immigrants regardless...
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