A mentor to many of us in the single-payer movement, Dr. Geyman was a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, which he led from 1976 to 1990 during an era of rapid growth in its faculty size.  In 1991, he moved to San Juan Island, Washington, to provide care to the islands' residents in his Family Practice there. John founded the first research journal focused on family medicine - the Journal of Family Practice.

When he retired in 1997, he became a staunch supporter and advocate for meaningful health care reform, serving on the national Board of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and a term as its President.  His books grace the shelves of his many mentees and admirers.  His love of aviation dovetailed with his remote medical practice and he flew for years with the Eagles, a volunteer group of pilots who flew many patients to their appointments for specialized treatment.   

When the Washington State Chapter of PNHP was started in 2006, he became their Honorary President and the inspiration for the John Geyman Health Justice Advocate Award he handed out at PNHPWA’s annual public meetings at UW's Kane Hall.  His kind, gentle manner made those who met him feel as if they had a great friend and guide from the moment you shook his hand and looked into his eyes. 

Pediatrician Dr. Sherry Weinberg, HCFA-WA Board member and President of theHCFA-WA Education Fund, was a recipient of this award in 2010.  She shares these memories:

Of course, I knew about Dr. Geyman and his work in Family Practice and with Physicians for a National Health Program, but I was surprised when he tapped my shoulder on my flight to Philadelphia a few years ago. He and his wife were also going to the Annual Meeting of PNHP there. We ended up spending a nice time together during the various events that weekend. In 2021, my husband and I, with our children and grandchildren, spent a wonderful June weekend celebrating our both turning 80. It culminated with an excellent dinner at the nicest restaurant in Friday Harbor. We included Dr. Geyman and Emily, who fit in with us easily. They were definitely part of making the weekend very special!  Dr. Geyman was a great mentor to all of us working for a better health system in the U.S.

And from Dr. Peter Lucas, HCFA-WA Board member and Treasurer:

In 2017, I helped organize an event at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art to educate a general audience of approximately 80 about the healthcare problems facing America, and the obvious solution: single payer. I was honored that Sherry Appleton, my state representative and longtime ally of Healthcare for All-Washington, and Dr. Geyman agreed to be the speakers. He flew to Boeing Field from the San Juan Islands by himself and ferried over to the island. Several members of HCFA-WA and I enjoyed a pleasant lunch at the museum’s cafe before the event. Both Dr. Geyman and Ms. Appleton made wonderful presentations. Dr. Geyman displayed his thorough knowledge of the healthcare landscape and made a strong case for a single payer system in Washington. We were very appreciative of him gracing our event with his presence and expertise. Many single payer advocates, myself included, have benefited from the education he provided through his many books written over decades. We are very grateful for his immense contribution to our cause.

Read PNHP’s bio of Dr. John Geyman

Table for HCFA-WA in your community!

It’s Summertime...and event season is in full swing! 

Staffing an information table is a great way to connect with members of your community who may be feeling the effects of Federal chaos in our health care - or who are just as fed up with our broken system as you are and ready to do something about it! You’ll tell people about HCFA-WA and our approach, share health care experiences, and help grow our grassroots network throughout the state. 

Farmers markets, festivals, and county fairs are great opportunities to find new supporters of universal health care, as you connect with your community. We provide training and materials; you help make the connection to Everybody In, Nobody Out healthcare for Washington State!

We are building a statewide grassroots network for universal health care and we need you!

Interested? Reply to this email or click to Volunteer here!

Interested in learning more about single payer? We have advocates throughout the state who look forward to meeting with you and sharing our vision for universal health care in Washington state. 

Let us come to you - or we can meet on Zoom. Invite your friends and family, your neighbors, church, business, community groups, legislative district party meetings - anyone!

Click here to schedule a speaker

Do you think Washington State’s Millionaires Tax is a win for its residents? Just take the quiz from Invest in Washington Now and see how it affects your family. Then join Health Care for All-WA for our 2nd Wednesday Speaker Series with our guest, Beth Lindsay, on Wednesday, July 8. 

Beth started her career in politics as the operations director for the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, and she went on to spend 14 years as a principal at Northwest Passage Consulting, one of the region’s leading political consulting firms. 

Lately, she’s been leading the Invest in Washington Now campaign as well as mobilizing advocates like HCFA-WA and fighting the campaign to reverse the Millionaires tax. 

Take the quiz, then join us for our 2nd Wednesday Speaker Series, “Washington Wins with the New Millionaires Tax!” with Beth Lindsay on Wednesday, July 8 at 7pm on Zoom.

RSVP for Zoom info - look for it in your confirmation email!

HCFA-WA and Whole Washington Win Award from Washington State OIC

Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer’s Patients Over Profits Award 2026

Our Washington State Insurance Commissioner has spoken out for universal healthcare in her previous role in the Washington state Senate and in the powerful work in her current office. She recognized the work of our advocacy group by giving Health Care for All – Washington her annual award for “Patients Over Profits” for 2026. She praised the research and education that we have provided to help our state advance on the pathway to universal healthcare. Despite the barriers to providing healthcare for all Washingtonians, she understands that advocacy groups like ours are leading the way. She recognized our work alongside Whole Washington, the joint recipient of this award, and our help in building Health Care is a Human Right, the statewide coalition of healthcare advocacy groups. Our advocacy makes her confident that “universal healthcare will happen in her lifetime.”

Multiple coalition partners are working toward the same end: Universal, Single Payer Health Care for all Washingtonians.

June Universal Health Care Commission Recap: Keeping Eyes on the Prize

By Marcia Stedman, HCFA-WA Board Member

At its April meeting, the Commission decided to create a Universal Primary Care work group. Commission members Nicole Gomez, Rep. Parshley, Ingrid Ulrey representing the OIC, and FTAC member Hiroshi Nakano volunteered for this Work Group.

The June meeting agenda included a discussion of their report, a potential vote on how to spend the $250,000 funding provided to the UHCC by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), and a potential vote to approve the Provider Reimbursement Proposal prepared by the Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC).

Main Takeaways: The Commission

•  Agreed that before designing a universal health care system, they should first design a universal primary care (UPC) system for these reasons:
  • To increase and expedite access to health care
  • To gain the experience they need in order to design the full universal health system

Nicole Gomez stated that since the UHCC is the “nexus”of all the other Boards administered by the Health Care Authority, it would be the proper “home” for designing a UPC system, but they postponed a final decision until the FTAC can review this decision at their next meeting, to be held on Aug. 6th. 

•  Voted to spend the OIC’s $250,000, provided to the Commission, to test the hypothesis that spending 12% on primary care saves dollars elsewhere in the system, and if so, how much is saved. Any remaining funding would be spent on comparing the costs of these administrative structures, pending advice from the FTAC:
  • Fee-For-Service (FFS) or managed care payments
  • State-run or third-party administration
  • Application of Connecticut’s model: state-administered or managed FFS

A final vote will be taken at the next Commission meeting on Sept. 3rd.

The vote on the FTAC’s Provider Reimbursement Proposal could not be taken, as a majority of the members left early, resulting in a lack of quorum. 

HCFA-WA’s Takeaways:

1. Although the UHCC may appear to be the “nexus” of the Health Care Authority’s Boards, that impression may stem from the state agency reports included in each meeting. The UHCC was not intended to resolve other HCA issues; rather, the work of the other Boards should inform the Commission’s work.
2. The Health Care Cost Board is already mandated to measure and report on how to increase primary care spending to 12% of the state’s total spending on healthcare  (SB 5589, passed in 2022).  Achieving this goal should remain with the Cost Board so that the UHCC can fulfill its charge to design a health care system for the entirety of Washington’s health care services and residents.
3. The UHCC is the only body specifically charged with creating a universal health care system that provides coverage and access for all Washington residents through a unified financing system.  The focus should remain on their core mission of creating the universal health care system.   

Meeting Materials Here
Meeting Video Here

Next Meetings:

FTAC: Thursday, August 6th 2-4:30 p.m., Details available here closer to the date.

Comment to the FTAC 

• Speak during the designated public comment time at FTAC meetings. Sign up to provide public comment by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting occurs. 
• Submit written comments at any time.  If you submit your comments less than two weeks before a meeting, we’ll include them in the following meeting’s materials.

We urge our members to push to use OIC proviso funds for economic analysis focused on the entire single-payer universal healthcare system, rather than universal primary care, in their public comments.  

UHCC: Thursday, September 3rd  2–5 p.m., Details available here closer to the date.

Comment to the UHCC

• Speak during the designated public comment time at UHCC meetings. Sign up to provide public comment by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting occurs. 
• Email [email protected] at any time.  If you submit your comments less than two weeks before a meeting, they will be included in the following meeting’s materials.

We urge our members to push to use OIC proviso funds for economic analysis focused on the entire single-payer universal healthcare system, rather than universal primary care, in their public comments.  

• Read our take on past UHCC and FTAC meetings
• Subscribe to Health Care Authority (HCA) for updates

Now Available, the Universal Health Care Commission 2025 Annual Report

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE UHCC? 

Currently, there  are two open seats on the Commission, subject to appointment by the Governor. Candidates should have knowledge and experience regarding health care coverage, access, and financing, or other relevant expertise. Apply to Serve here

Join the Take Action Network

Even though the Washington  legislative session is over for 2026, 2027 is right around the corner! Stay involved as we continue to drive legislation related to a Universal, single payer health care system!

Join the Take Action Network from the HCFA-WA TAN page 

Together, we can move Washington forward on the pathway to universal health care.