Whack-a-mole is No Longer Working to Keep Healthcare Affordable
If it is Not Affordable, it is not Accessible

The Work Group needs to hear from us! Watch here and Comment here. Public comments accepted until 5 pm, Monday, December 30. We encourage you to share your story about unaffordable health care.

Thank you to all who traveled to Olympia to testify!

Thank you to the HCFA-WA members serving on the Work Group: Dennis Dellwo, Pete McGough, Kelly Powers, Ronnie Shur, Lynette Vehrs, and Sherry Weinberg

HR 3775: the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2021 

In 2021, Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) introduced HR 3775. the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2021.

An update of his HR 5010 (2019), this bill had 27 co-sponsors, including Washington’s Pramila Jayapal (CD-7) and Adam Smith (CD-9).

This bill establishes the option for states, or groups of states, to apply to waive certain federal health insurance requirements and provide residents with health insurance benefits plans through a state-administered program. Such programs must cover 95% of the residents in the state within five years and plan benefits must be at least as comprehensive and affordable as the coverage under the equivalent federal program.

Details including the bill text, summary, and complete list of cosponsors can be seen here.

We are expecting Rep. Khanna to introduce his 2023 update soon.

HR 5010: the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2019

Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) introduced HR 5010, the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2019.

HR 5010 Summary and FAQ Sheet

Rep. Ro Khanna's Press Release Introducing HR 5010

HR 5010, the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2019 Bill

Our blog post about the introduction

This bill enables states to bring health care costs under control for the first time with several tools: (1) greatly expanding the risk pool; (2) eliminating much of the administrative and profit-oriented cost of private insurance plans, estimated to represent 15-30 percent of American dollars spent on health care; (3) allowing the creation of global health care budgets with negotiated reimbursement rates for all providers; and (4) reorienting health care towards prevention and primary care.

In Washington State, the SBUHC Act would make it possible to implement a proposal like the Washington Health Security Trust (WHST). It would offer the same federal support needed by nearly 20 other states, including California and New York, that are working to achieve universal and affordable health care for all their residents.

Co-Sponsors. We are delighted that it has 15 original co-sponsors, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith from Washington state, as well as many Progressive leaders: Rep. Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Blumenauer (OR-03), Rep. Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. DeFazio (OR-4), Rep. Garcia (IL-04), Rep. Grijalva (AZ-03), Rep. Lee (CA-13), Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Omar (MN-05), Rep. Pocan (WI-02), Rep. Pressley (MA-07) Rep. Raskin (MD-08), Rep. Schakowsky (IL-09), Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), Rep. Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

Our task now is to increase the support for the bill, starting in our state. Every chance we get, we need to be asking Rep. Suzan DelBene (CD-1), Denny Heck (CD-10), Derek Kilmer (CD-6), Rick Larsen (CD-2), and Kim Schrier (CD-8) to sign on to the bill and to support it.The State-Based Universal Health Care Act responds to the calls for complete access and greater affordability of health care for all Americans coupled with a uniquely American tradition—namely, capitalizing on the role of states as incubators of policy from our founding. As such, states should be able to provide health care for all.

Many thanks to One Payer States and David Loud for providing the Bill Summary and FAQs.