Universal Health Care Commission October meeting recap: All hands on deck!

Solid Suggestions from the Advocate Community at the Oct. 9th UHCC meeting illustrate the need for an “all hands on deck” approach to protect access to health care for Washington residents. 

HCFA-WA President Ronnie Shure proposed four transitional solutions: consolidating PEBB/SEBB purchasing; promoting local government enrollment in public employee plans; supporting limitations on corporate practice of healthcare; and allowing the Health Benefit Exchange to offer only standardized cost-sharing plans to increase competition and reduce administrative workload. 

Whole Washington volunteer Thomas Kennedy described their work on approximately 12 bills ranging from PEBB/SEBB consolidation to a constitutional amendment for healthcare, emphasizing the need for "deprivatization plans" for publicly administered programs and stronger coordination between advocacy groups and the Commission, building on the advocates roundtable model.

Annie Fitzgerald, a Grassroots Disability Justice Organizer, speaking from lived experience as a disabled person from Snohomish County, urged the Commission to include quarterly advocates roundtables in the 2026 workplan, emphasizing that disabled people, caregivers, and community advocates bring essential knowledge about system failures and real solutions, ensuring the universal healthcare plan is inclusive, accessible, and rooted in justice.

Julia Shake, Washington CAN Healthcare Intern, shared her personal story of her mother losing health insurance during the pandemic because her father's income slightly exceeded Medicaid's threshold. Federal funding cuts make the Commission's work urgent. She called for transitional solutions such as administrative simplification to reduce overhead and stronger price controls to make healthcare affordable without forcing choices between health and survival.

Paul Ryan Villanueva, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Seattle Chapter, emphasized healthcare access difficulties in immigrant families and expressed concern about recent incidents where healthcare data was given to Homeland Security for immigration enforcement, calling it a betrayal of trust. He requested the Commission hold more advocacy roundtables and consult organizations representing marginalized workers and unions, arguing healthcare issues cannot be separated from worker and immigrant issues.

Mahati Alapati, Whole Washington Advisory Board Member, focused on how federal and state Medicaid cuts affect university students, including new work requirements of 80 hours monthly, reduced eligibility for non-citizens and international students, and six-month reenrollment frequencies. Many students aren't enrolled for sufficient hours, university funding cuts make student employment scarce, and the average graduate student age of 32 exceeds parent insurance coverage limits.

Katherine Lewandowsky, Whole Washington Board Vice Chair and Registered Nurse, reported on a recent Whole Washington town hall in Omak (CD4), where residents face high uninsured rates, heavy Medicaid enrollment, and hospitals at risk of closing due to federal cuts. She shared a recommendation to adjust the Washington Health Trust's business assessment sliding scale and concerns about large corporations like Walmart forcing low-wage employees to pay the 2% employee healthcare share while avoiding providing insurance coverage.

In other business, the Commissioners received State Agency reports and approved their Draft 2025 Report to the Legislature, as well as significant Work Plan changes for 2026, and ongoing Transitional Solutions. 

Read all about them when you Jump to the Blog.

The next Commission meeting is on Thursday, Dec. 11th, from 2-5 p.m., and will feature a labor panel. We encourage you to Sign up to provide public comment by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting occurs.

The next FTAC meeting is next week, Thurs., Nov. 6, from 2-4:30 pm.  Details available here closer to the date. 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, such as our Washington Health Security Trust (WHST)

• Read our take on past UHCC and FTAC meetings

• Subscribe to Health Care Authority (HCA) for updates

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE UHCC? 

There are 2 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

Ending Neglect of Tuberculosis: the U-shaped curve in public health, presented by Dr. Stefan Goldberg  

Watch on YouTube here

Dr. Goldberg worked on the frontlines in the Tuberculosis Clinic in Public Health – Seattle and King County from 1991 to 2003, then he moved to the CDC in the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination. He is presently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology. He has served on the Board of the Treatment Action Group since 2024, which envisions the end of the HIV, TB, and hepatitis C pandemics.

Summary

Tuberculosis (TB), known as “consumption” in the 18th and 19th centuries, was a leading cause of death in Europe during the Industrial Revolution, claiming one in five lives. Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of the TB bacillus shifted understanding away from miasma and hereditary theories, sparking scientific progress. However, TB control showed a “U-shaped curve of concern,” where each victory led to complacency, funding cuts, and disease resurgence.

Early detection targeted high-risk groups rather than universal screening in low-incidence regions. Antibiotics drastically reduced TB in the mid-20th century, but the 1980s–90s resurgence driven by HIV and weakened health systems highlighted the need for sustained efforts. During COVID-19, TB cases appeared to decline due to under-reporting, but surged again in 2023–24, with a worrying 16% rise among children under five.

Prevention relies on the century-old BCG vaccine, which protects children but isn’t used in the U.S. and complicates testing. New vaccines show promise but remain unlicensed. Social factors like poverty, overcrowding, and malnutrition continue to fuel transmission, showing science alone can’t end TB.

Literature and art have historically humanized TB victims and inspired action, from classic works like La Bohème to present-day efforts such as Moulin Rouge: The Musical collaborating with the CDC. The 2000 Institute of Medicine report outlines five pillars guiding U.S. strategy through 2025: maintain control, accelerate decline, develop tools, engage globally, and mobilize support. Without consistent commitment on these fronts, TB will persist and rebound, frustrating hopes for its permanent elimination.

Action Item #1: On Nov. 4, approve SJR 8201

SJM 8201 allows Washington to invest long-term care funds more productively, and here's how. This proposal amending the state Constitution would allow the State Investment Board to invest a portion of only the long term care fund's reserves in equities (stocks), which historically, generate higher returns over the long term.  Read the FAQ on the Approve 8201 website and see the pro and con comments from the WA Voters Guide, and we think you'll agree this measure deserves your support!

Action Item #2: Preserve the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits  

Congressional approved ACA Tax Credits will expire at the end of the year unless Congress extends them soon. This is the key issue over the current government shut-down. 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. 

Learn how this would affect Washington State

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

Action Item #3:  Oppose Expanding Prior Authorization Into Traditional Medicare

Congress is weighing action to stop the Trump administration’s WISeR pilot, set to begin in January 2026 in Washington and five other states. WISeR would raise denial rates and restrict access to needed services. Now is the moment to push back before these harmful changes take root.

Email Congress about Trump’s plan to let Artificial Intelligence (AI) decide which Medicare patients get care.

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

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When Washington DC Hands Out Lemons: How States Can Cushion Medicaid Cuts
Health Care Un-covered - Sept. 25, 2025