• discussed legislators’ plans for the 2024 Legislative Session 
• hosted the July 15th WA-OR Health Advocacy Leaders Summit 
• rallied to save Medicare from the medical industrial complex 
• tracked the progress in the Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC) and Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) 

Read on for the details!

All about ERISA: State based universal health care, large employers and ERISA 

By Consuelo Echeverria 

September’s FTAC meeting was jam packed. We had Bill Kramer discuss large employers’ perspectives on State-based universal health care (SBUHC) and Erin Fuse Brown on ERISA considerations for the UHCC. 

Mr. Kramer highlighted that large employers can be open to SBUHC as the cost of health care has impacted their ability to remain competitive in their search for qualified employees. 

Ms. Fuse Brown  laid out a three point strategy that the UHCC could adapt to overcome an ERISA challenge. 

There is so much to learn. To get the full skinny, visit the links below. 

Watch the recording

Read the materials

1.  Sign up to provide public comment by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting occurs. Please review  what to expect when providing public comments.
2. By contacting the HCA at any time. If you want your written comments to be included in an upcoming meeting, email your comments two weeks before that meeting occurs.

Pro Tip: Subscribe to receive announcements of future meetings in your own in-box.

Get our take on past UHCC and FTAC meetings

Read more on our blog

Building Bridges Between Oregon and Washington Healthcare Advocates

By Marcia Stedman

Washington and Oregon lead the nation in developing universal state-based single-payer healthcare, and we’re collaborating!

In mid-July, 23 health justice leaders representing 14 organizations across both states gathered in Seattle and virtually to discuss the current status of our single-payer efforts and develop a vision for building on our victories. We:  

• Strengthened relationships, communication, and cross-state collaboration.
• Shared information on policy, politics, and organizing.
• Agreed on a strategy for contacting our Congressional Representatives to co-sponsor the State Based Universal Health Care Act (HR 3775) – *see Take Action below

At our August 9th HCFA-WA 2nd Wednesday Speaker Series, 4 leaders shared victories and lessons learned

• Sandra Coyner –  Health Care for All Oregon and Health Care for All Oregon-Action
• Ronnie Shure – Health Care for All-Washington President
• Marcia Stedman – Health Care for All-Washington Communications
• Charlie Swanson - Health Care for All Oregon-Action President

In addition, Chuck Pennacchio, the President of One Payer States, joined us to motivate other states to follow our pathway through reintroduction of the State-based Universal Health Care Act (HR 3775).

Read on for more

Ask your member of congress to co-sponsor Ro Khanna’s State Based Universal Health Care Act 

We have partnered with Whole Washington to activate our entire state and remove a major barrier to universal health care in WA. 

Please use our custom letter and contact your Member of Congress. 

Ask them to co-sponsor Ro Khanna’s State Based Universal Health Care Act which will provide a federal pathway to create a state based universal health care system.

More Action:

As part of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare is now able to lower the cost of 10 prescription drugs. You can share your story at Opportunities for Public Input on Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Patient-Focused Listening Sessions.

More information on the First 10 Drugs chosen for Medicare price negotiations and the nearly $100 billion in predicted savings. 

Drugmaker Eli Lilly caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month, bringing relief for millions. The move puts the drugmaker in line with a popular provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that capped the medication’s cost for seniors on Medicare.

Medicine at the Mercy of Wall Street

Investment bankers turn publicly funded pharmaceuticals into privately held gold mines. Reforming the patent system would change that.