We are all exhausted by the onslaught but here in WA state there is really good news. We are working with our allies to build support and pass legislation that lowers the cost of healthcare and build essential infrastructure to prepare WA for a single payer universal health care system.
We are also tracking the glacial pace of the UHCC and FTAC, and as the only org to do please do read what the presentations are and what you can do to speed up the process.
But first a bit of action:
SB 5387 Prohibiting the corporate practice of medicine (prohibiting ownership of health entities and management of them, by investment organizations)
Please sign in PRO by Feb 7 on SB 5387 in Senate Health & Long Term Care.
SB 5480 - Prohibiting use of medical debt in credit scoring formulas
Please sign in PRO by Feb 4 at Senate Law & Justice
We are slowly rolling out our legislation for the 2025 long session. So here are our first three bills that we have as top priorities for 2025. Check our website soon for the rest!
SB 5086 - 2025-26 Consolidating the public employees' benefits board and the school employees' benefits board.
Sponsors: Robinson, Nobles, Wellman
Companion Bill: HB 1330
The state of Washington has combined two separate benefit programs (one for state employees and one for school employees) into a new program called the Washington Employees and Retirees Benefits Board (WERBB). This new board will manage health benefits for both groups.
Here’s what it means:
- Required medical benefits: The WERBB will make sure everyone gets the health coverage they need, just like PEBB and SEBB used to do separately.
- Optional benefits: If you were part of SEBB and had extra benefits you could pay for (like dental or vision), you’ll still be able to choose and pay for these options under WERBB.
The goal is to make things simpler and more unified for employees and retirees of both the state and schools.
This is our signature bill. There has been a lot of opposition to this bill so we need our volunteers who might have connections to teacher unions to please join us for targeted outreach.
HB 1482 - 2025-26 Assuring equity in health coverage.
Sponsors: Thai, Macri, Doglio, Davis, Reed, Ramel, Parshley, Santos, Salahuddin, Ormsby, Scott, Pollet, Hill, Simmons
Building on last year’s historic victory of $75 million for Apple Health Expansion, this bill identified priorities and addresses gaps in coverage and services that prevent immigrants from receiving equitable access to affordable care.
SB 5083 - 2025-26 Ensuring access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services.
Sponsors: Robinson, Harris, Liias, Nobles, Salomon, Valdez
Companion Bill: HB 1123
This bill sets limits on how much hospitals and other healthcare providers can be paid for services under the PEBB and SEBB health plans, with different rules for different types of hospitals and services. It also requires sharing of cost and care quality data.
Limits will be set through Reference-based pricing. RBPis a healthcare payment system where a maximum price for service is set, using a standard benchmark—like Medicare rates—instead of negotiating prices with each provider. This approach helps control healthcare costs by capping what’s paid for procedures.
Global Budgets … hmmm ….
by Consuelo Echeverria
As this week the FTAC was all about budget I thought it may be useful to have a short intro to global budgets.
What is a global budget
Hospitals with global budgets get paid a set amount to treat a group of patients over a certain time period, rather than being paid for each individual service they provide.
There are two types of global budgets:
- Fixed global budget: The amount is set, no matter how many patients the hospital treats, with no flexibility.
- Flexible global budget: The hospital gets a set amount, but this can change based on how many patients they treat or the costs they face, offering some flexibility.
Fixed global budgets
Pros
- Stability: Fixed budgets provide a steady revenue stream, which can help hospitals when they don't know how many patients they’ll have or how much care they’ll need to provide.
- Easier to budget: Fixed costs don't change from one period to the next.
- Better savings: Fixed budgets can help hospitals save money.
Cons
- Financial hardship: If a fixed budget is based on wrong or outdated data, the hospital might not have enough money to cover costs, especially if the number of patients or the care needed is higher than expected.
- Reduced flexibility: Fixed budgets don't allow for changes in the type of care or service that are given.
Flexible global budgets
Pros
- Adjust to volume: Flexible budgets can change based on how many patients the hospital treats and the level of care needed.
- Remove fee-for-service incentives: With flexible budgets, hospitals are less likely to provide unnecessary care since they’re not paid for each individual service.
- Improve efficiency: Flexible budgets give hospitals more control, allowing them to find ways to improve efficiency and save money.
Cons
- May not meet quality standards: If a flexible budget doesn't have mechanisms to ensure quality standards are met, hospitals may not provide needed services
Implications and tradeoffs
Global budgets in healthcare help control spending by setting limits on both prices and the amount of care provided. This flexibility avoids issues with price regulation but could risk not providing enough care. Hospitals and providers are encouraged to reduce unnecessary spending, but this could also lead to cutting both helpful and unhelpful care unless quality goals are included in the agreements. To make sure quality isn't lost, pay-for-performance rules are often used.
Global budgets shift financial risk to healthcare providers, but they also offer some protection against things like reduced patient numbers, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, when extra support helped prevent big financial losses. Still, unexpected costs, like those from public health emergencies, can lead to big financial challenges, sometimes causing hospitals to cut services or close.
Research from programs like Medicare ACOs and Massachusetts's AQC shows that global budgets can save money without hurting quality. They often do this by reducing the amount of care or sending patients to cheaper facilities.
In general, global budgets can control costs and maintain quality, as long as they are carefully designed with plans for sharing risk and rewarding good performance.
References to learn more
Strategies to Lower Health Care Prices from KFF, Jul 6, 2022 Health Care
Join us as we track the next meeting of the UHCC this Thursday, February 13 from 2–5 p.m.
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.
Let's get to work! January 2025 2nd Wednesday Speaker Series Recap
By Ron Lovell
Our Policy Committee and lobbyist share our legislative agenda for the upcoming session. A new year means a new plan, renewed enthusiasm and new opportunities. We’ve been steadily making progress and now we’ll hear how our new actions can put us even closer to our goal. Watch the video above or click here to open in YouTube.
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Lonnie Johns-Brown, HCFAWA lobbyist, provides an overview of the upcoming legislative session, highlighting significant changes in leadership and committee composition: First time in 12 years a new governor, along with a new Attorney General and a new Insurance Commissioner, Patty Kuderer. She is a former HCFAWA Health Care Champion and Senator for LD 48 Bellevue area. In the Legislature there are 12 new Senators and 19 new Representatives. Many changes in the senior Administrative department heads and in Committee leadership position.
- In the Senate, the new Health and Long term Care Committee; is chaired by Annette Cleveland
- In the House, the Health Care and Wellness Committee is chaired by Dan Bonoske and, for the first time, has two vice-chairs: Debra Lakanof and Alicia Rule.
- The new legislative session faces a substantial budget deficit, with a focus on addressing healthcare challenges.
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Three top-tier priorities are identified:
a. healthcare purchasing,
b. Medicaid enrollment,
c. funding for Universal Health Care Commission.
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Denny Dellwo, HCFAWA Chair of the Policy Committee highlighted the contributions to the Universal Health Care Commission and the importance of lobbyist’s role in facilitating communication with legislators and being aware of critical issues is emphasized. Denny highlighted these bills important to advance universal health care:
- Senate Joint Memorial 2004, focusing on the need for federal support for universal healthcare in Washington state.
- Health Equity for immigrants, aiming to maintain funding levels amidst budget challenges.
- Senate Bill 5083 proposes the use of reference-based pricing by the Health Care Authority to streamline budget setting processes.
- Work to prevent budget cuts in the Health Care Authority are emphasized to ensure continued funding for healthcare initiatives.
- Collaborative efforts and support for legislative bills are highlighted, with a focus on strategic partnerships and task assignments.
- 21:02Flexibility in adapting to upcoming legislative items and the evolving session agenda is emphasized, indicating a dynamic approach to advocacy.
- Chis Currie, author of free e-book A Medicare For All Q & A, reviewed the history of the Washington Health Security Trust, also known as WHST, dating back to 1990. It aimed for a state-based single-payer Health Care Finance system. The revised WHST bill aims to establish a fair, accountable, and lower-cost universal healthcare system. The proposal outlines preferred options for universal healthcare. To encourage acceptance by the legislature the proposal leaves funding details to legislators. Core provisions of the WHST bill include universal coverage, no cost-sharing, and decision-making power for health professionals and patients. The WHST bill mandates public hearings, community needs assessments, and policies to reduce health disparities. The proposal underscores the importance of care coordination, integration, and rewarding time spent with patients.
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Consuelo Echeverria, board member, reviewed federal healthcare issues.
- Federal State-based Universal Healthcare Act HR 6270.
- Health Over Wealth Act (Senate bill: S. 4804 and H.R. 9156) calling for transparency in healthcare investments.
- Save Medicare Act is a federal bill that prohibits private insurers from using the term "Medicare" in their plan titles or advertisements for healthcare insurance. This bill is J a response to concerns about Medicare Advantage plan enrollment fraud, deceptive marketing, and overpayments to these plans by the federal government
- Ron Lovell, Board member, discussed The Take Action Network (TAN) which provides a personalized dashboard for users to access timely and relevant actions based on their interests and values. Users can monitor bills, take specific actions, and communicate their opinions to representatives through the TAN. You can join the network here.
In Washington state, the push for universal healthcare coverage has deep roots dating back to the 1990s, with initiatives like the Washington Health Security Trust proposing a state-based single-payer system. Healthcare for All Washington has been instrumental in promoting universal healthcare coverage and shaping healthcare policy through grassroots efforts.
We invite you to join us in creating meaningful changes in healthcare policy that prioritize transparency, accountability, public participation, equity, affordability, and quality care for all residents.
Fri, Feb. 6 |
Whole WA Town Hall Please join us for a meeting to discuss plans for our statewide events to promote and bring awareness to Whole Washington and The Washington Health Trust. |
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Tues, Feb. 11 |
Children’s Alliance Have a Heart for Kids Lobby Day Activate your political power and join the Children's Alliance in Olympia! Together with child advocates from across Washington, you will learn about the political process, speak directly with your elected representatives, and raise your voices at a powerful rally on the Capitol steps. Children and families are welcome! Boxed lunches will be provided. |
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Tues, Feb. 11 |
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One Payer States Office Hours Come to the 2nd Tuesday Office Hours to hear from leading experts in their fields and how to apply their knowledge to win the fight for universal one-payer health care. |
Wed, |
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2nd Wednesday Speaker Series: How Universal Health Care Can Help Balance the State Budget We’ll be taking a deep dive into our three top priorities in our legislative agenda for 2025. We will answer your questions on how our goals and strategies can impact the current state budget hole. We’ll also have an update on the federal priorities in our legislative agenda for 2025. We have to work closely with our national single-payer allies and address the potential impact of the new Presidential appointments. |
Wed, Feb. 19 |
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Physicians for a National Health Program Washington (PNHP -WA |
Fri, Feb. 21 |
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OPS 3rd Friday Meeting Join us for our 3rd Friday educational meeting! |
The perfect gift for every universal health care supporter, any time of year: Everybody In, Nobody Out t-shirts, winter scarves, and umbrellas.
★ Editors: Consuelo Echeverria & Marcia Stedman ★
★ Graphics & Communications Specialist: Sydnie Jones ★
★ President: Ronnie Shure ★