Universal Health Care Commission

What’s the role of the commission?

The purpose of the commission is to:

• Make the health care system more accessible by increasing access to quality, affordable health care.
• Prepare the state for the creation of a health care system that provides coverage and access for all Washington residents:
  • Through a unified financing system.
  • Once the federal government approves this new health care system.

Will the commission work with other entities?

Yes. The commission will collect and use data from the Health Care Cost Transparency Board.

The commission will also consider and apply, when appropriate, the work of the Universal Health Care Work Group, whose work ended in early 2021. In 2019, the Washington State Legislature directed HCA to convene a work group study (i.e., the work group). The purpose of the study was to provide recommendations to the Legislature on how to create, implement, maintain, and fund a universal health care system.

Reports

• Washington Health Trust (SB 5335) analysis report (June 2024)
• 2023 annual report to the Legislature

Baseline report

• Read the full report (November 2022)
• Read the report by section:
  • Glossary of abbreviations and acronyms
  • Executive summary
  • Section 1: synthesis of past analyses
  • Section 2: strategies to move toward a universal health care system
  • Section 3: core components of a universal system
  • Section 4: readiness
  • Section 5: Medicaid rates
  • Section 6: transitional solutions
  • Section 7: finance
  • Conclusion
  • Appendix A: Universal Health Care Commission members
  • Appendix B: charter and operating procedures (draft)
  • Appendix C: Universal Health Care Work Group report to the Legislature (January 2021)
  • Appendix D: survey

News and announcements

2024

2023

Date	Title
December 11, 2023	Universal Health Care Commission meets this week
November 6, 2023	Attend the Universal Health Care Commission's Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) meeting
October 6, 2023	Attend the Universal Health Care Commission's October meeting
August 4, 2023	August Universal Health Care Commission meeting coming up
June 7, 2023	Attend the June Universal Health Care Commission meeting
May 5, 2023	Attend the May Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) meeting
April 5, 2023	April Universal Health Care Commission meeting coming up
March 3, 2023	Finance Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) to the Universal Health Care Commission to meet next week

2022

Date	Title
December 12, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission to meet this week
November 28, 2022	Last chance: Universal Health Care Commission accepting applications for new advisory committee
November 14, 2022	Reminder: Universal Health Care Commission accepting applications for new advisory committee
November 8, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission report highlights milestones, recommendations for achieving universal health care
October 31, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission announces Call for Applications for new advisory committee
October 7, 2022	October Universal Health Care Commission meeting coming up
September 8, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission seeking public comment
July 7, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission meeting next week
June 9, 2022	June Universal Health Care Commission meeting coming up
April 12, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission meeting this week
February 23, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission meeting on Friday
January 3, 2022	Universal Health Care Commission meets tomorrow