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