July 31, 2022

Universal Health Care Commission Dips Toes into Discussing Near Term Steps to UHC at July Meeting  This month’s UHCC recap appears courtesy of author Kelly Powers, Co-chair of the Policy Committee that focuses on the UHCC as an important part of the work by...

June 30, 2022

Key Design Elements of a UHC System by Consuelo Echeverria In the  June session, we got to hear from the Commission members themselves as they discussed Washington’s readiness to implement key design elements of a universal health care system.  1. What should WA state’s...

May 31, 2022

  Who Knew?   or  Yes, It Really Is This Complicated! By Marcia Stedman Image Credit: Matt Wuerker, Politico Meeting #4 of the Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC) included  an overview of recent legislation including advancements in behavioral health, housing, and Medicaid and two bills...

January 20, 2022

We are spotlighting the members of the Universal Health Care Commission who introduced themselves at our Second Wednesday Speaker Series on December 8. On the recommendation of the offices of the Washington State Health Care Authority and the Attorney General, we invited only the...

January 19, 2022

We are spotlighting the members of the Universal Health Care Commission who introduced themselves at our Second Wednesday Speaker Series on December 8. On the recommendation of the offices of the Washington State Health Care Authority and the Attorney General, we invited only the...

December 20, 2021

Highlights from Dr. Kemble’s talkFind a PDF of his slideshow here. A lot of money flows through public programs, particularly Medicare and Medicaid. Private business interests want to tap into this money, but claims processing is only about 2% of healthcare dollars. If private...

September 17, 2021

September 8: Lowering Prescription Drug Prices in Washington State  Policies to control high prescription drug prices have been proposed at the federal level, but very little effective action has been taken.(But now there’s an opportunity, with the #BuildBackBetter Reconciliation Package being debated right now!...

February 19, 2021

Elaine Cox with contributions from Sarah Weinberg, MD We’ve seen and heard a lot of questions and discussion about why HCFA-WA is endorsing 2SSB 5399,  Concerning the creation of a universal health care commission. We’d like to address some of these concerns using a Q &...

February 18, 2021

Our February 10 one-hour Work Group Findings Zoom meeting featured four members of the Universal Health Care Work Group: Denny Dellwo, former chair of the Washington State House Health Care Committee; Lynnette Vehrs, MN, RN, and president of the Washington State Nurses Association; Ronnie...

January 28, 2021

Published 1/26/21 in the Spokesman-Review From HCFA-WA members Cris Currie, RN (ret), MA, former Rep. Denny Dellwo, Dan Schaffer, MD, and Lynette Vehrs, RN, MN: To the Editor: Imagine if everyone in Washington state could get truly affordable, high quality health care, when they...