Our Policy Agenda
HCHR-WA’s policy outlines our policy framework and lists the platforms that were adopted by HCHR-WA sponsoring members at the General Meeting.
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Achieve universal health care in WA State and our nation.
Improve health care affordability and access, while driving down escalating industry profits and controlling prices.
Advance equity and address social determinants of health, with a particular focus on reducing racial disparities.
Defend access to health care through existing public programs, including staving off privatization and monopolization in our current health care system, while working toward a universal health care system.
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Does the issue enhance and support the mission and goals of HCHR?
Does the issue have a critical mass of advocates, including a core leadership of organizations within HCHR?
Is there a clear and realistic strategy to pass or adopt thepolicy proposal?
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We are faced with a number of urgent challenges, including budget deficits at the state level that jeopardize our healthcare and other safety net programs, and threats at the federal level to Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, immigrant health and safety, reproductive health services, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and much more. It is therefore crucial that health care advocates work for both near term solutions and damage prevention, as well as long term investments and strategies. Health Care is a Human Right is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals in Washington and our nation are guaranteed access to comprehensive, affordable and equitable health care, and to helping ensure that our lawmakers feel the political urgency to create the tools and resources to fulfill that guarantee.
Universal Healthcare
Federal
● Support legislative efforts to achieve universal health care (e.g., HB 1445 / SB 5233 Washington Health Trust, including interim steps such as expanding existing public coverage such as PEBB/SEBB, involvement with the UHCC, Federal trigger bill).
● Improve access to health care safety net programs for individuals at risk of losing coverage due to Federal threats (e.g., Apple Health Expansion, Cascade Care Savings).
● Support active state purchasing of health care (e.g.,Exchange plan selection authority)
What this means for you:
More affordable healthcare you can actually use.
Protection if you’re at risk of losing coverage.
Lower premiums and better health plans.
State
● Support Congressional efforts to expand universal healthcare (e.g., Medicare For All Act - HR 3421 / S. 1655).
● Expand state authority and readiness for state-based universal coverage systems (e.g., State-Based Universal Health Care Act, HR 4406, S. 2286).
What this means for you:
Healthcare for everyone; no matter your job, income, or immigration status.
A state that’s ready to take of you, your loved ones, and community.
Non-Legislative
● Pursue universal coverage through Washington State’s Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC).
● Commitment to hold the UHCC accountable and to expedite its work on proposing a universal health plan design, including a single-payer version.
What this means for you:
Washington State is actively working towards universal health care.
No endless delays or empty promises.
Equity & Social Determinants
Federal
● Protect health coverage for immigrants
● Ensuring data safety and privacy for immigrants and people accessing reproductive & gender-affirming care
● Preserve and advance immigrant health equity (e.g., maintain Apple Health Expansion and sustain funding for increased Cascade Care subsidies)
Non-Legislative
● Monitor legal threats to public programs, such as lawsuits against federal rules such as CMS data reinstatement of public charge andPWORA.
Access & Affordability
Federal
● Ensure availability of affordable coverage options (e.g., Cascade Care Subsidies and Medigap guaranteed issue and annual open enrollment).
● Ensure access to community-based care (e.g., Corporate Practice of Medicine and Consolidation Transparency).
● Ensure state oversight of health care entity spending (e.g., Excess insurer reserves tax HB 2073/SB 5808).
● Remove cost barriers to receiving life-saving medications.
● Expanding access to public coverage (e.g., HB 1354 Expanding PEBB to session employees, state safety net programs for people losing coverage due to HR 1).
● Support patients by advocating for medical debt wage garnishment alleviation.
In simple terms:
● Affordable insurance you can actually get and use.
● Care that is rooted in community, not corporate profits.
● Oversight so health care dollars go to actual care, not excess profits.
● Life-saving medications without the impossible price tags.
● Expanded public coverage for workers and those who are at risk of losing insurance.
● Protection from crushing medical debt.
State
● Address premium affordability through continued funding for enhanced premium tax credits.
● Reduce barriers to care and administrative burdens, such as prior authorization rules.
(S. 1816 and H.R. 3514 - Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025).
● Address drug affordability for lifesaving medications (e.g., Capping costs for epi-pens, inhalers, and insulin).
In simple terms:
Lower insurance costs.
Easier access to care.
Access to life-saving medications without the high cost.
Non-Legislative
● Monitor consumer affordability and price control efforts via Washington State’s Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and the Exchange’s Cascade Care Workgroup.
In simple terms:
Keep an eye on costs so health care remains affordable.
Transparency = better choices. You can see which plans and medications give you real value instead of hidden costs.
Defending Public
Program
Federal
● Support progressive revenue to prevent cuts of public programs (e.g., new taxes on financial intangibles, insurer reserves, capital gains cleanup, health-specific revenue).
● Protect the healthcare safety net amidst proposed threats from budget cuts.
● Defend critical health and economic support programs from long-term threats (e.g., paid family & medical leave).
● Explore solutions to achieve administrative simplification of Washington's Apple Health program, in order to free up funds for patient care and provider reimbursement.
State
● Defend Original Medicare against privatization and underfunding, including by calling for federal action to “level the playing field” with Medicare Advantage through adding benefits, capping enrollee expenses, and limiting copays and deductibles (e.g., SJM 8002)
● Prevent restrictions on access to care in Medicare, including the usage of prior authorization to delay or deny services (H.R. 5940 - Seniors Deserve SMARTER care Act)
● Safeguard Social Security and strengthen protections for beneficiaries (S. 2763 - Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security)
● Advocate against impending changes to Medicaid that harm access to coverage (e.g., H.R. 1).
Non-Legislative
● Continue to engage with state and federal partners and other stakeholders to address threats to safety net programs.