Matt Ready

Work has been completed drafting a resolution supporting single payer healthcare and encouraging the Washington Health Security Trust bill be included in the 2015 legislative session.  Barring any unforeseen obstacles, I intend to make a motion at the December 3 hospital commission meeting for the board to discuss and take action on this resolution.  Here is the resolution content:

JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO. 2

RESOLUTION # TBD

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE

 

WHEREAS it is critical for the long term sustainability of high quality healthcare services in our district, that the overall healthcare payment system of our State is designed in a rational, balanced, and consistent manner; and

WHEREAS it is clear from objective study of healthcare payment systems around the world, that a single payer healthcare system is less costly and is capable of producing superior health outcomes and greater overall population health than the current Washington State and US healthcare systems;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Jefferson County Public Hospital District #2 Board of Commissioners support the continued study of the development and implementation of a single payer healthcare system at either the State or Federal level.

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Jefferson County Public Hospital District #2 Board of Commissioners support that the Washington Health Security Trust bill, a bill designed as a foundation for a transition to Washington State single payer healthcare, be included in the 2015 Washington State legislative session.

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Jefferson County Public Hospital District #2 Board of Commissioners call upon all elected local, state, and federal leaders to work together in a spirit of cooperation to objectively study the design and implementation of a balanced and sustainable single payer system that will serve the long-term healthcare interests of all people in our hospital district and beyond.

If you wish to attend this hospital commission meeting, it will begin at 3:30pm in the Jefferson Healthcare Auditorium.  I do not yet know exactly when during the commission meeting the motion for considering this resolution will happen.

As I have said before, I do not believe hospital commissioners or any local officials should remain silent in the dialogue surrounding how to improve our healthcare system and bring it in line with other countries in terms of cost and health benefits to the community.  The road to true healthcare reform in our state and country at large is going to be messy with all the special interest money that spreads so much misinformation about the relevant issues.  I believe public hospital commissioners, healthcare leaders such as doctors and nurses, as well as other local leaders, can all help become a collective voice of reason in this discussion.  My hope is that if we can spark enough rational reasonable discussion, we can all come together around sensible solutions for creating a truly sustainable and world class healthcare system that benefits everyone.

Finally, Some Answers!
A Single-Payer Healthcare Forum, Including What Does SINGLE PAYER Mean?

Location: Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave., Port Townsend, WA
When: Saturday, November 22, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Sponsors: Jefferson County Citizens for Healthcare Access
League of Women Voters Clallam County
Healthcare for All – Washington

Moderator: Bertha Cooper, League of Women Voters Clallam County

Panel: Rep. Steve Tharinger, 24th Legislative District
Dr. Ken Fabert, Physicians For a National Health Plan
Matt Ready, Board Member, Jefferson Healthcare
Patrick Noonan, Healthcare For All-WA, Medical Device Consultant

Please join us for a thorough dialogue of the path to achieving single-payer healthcare in Washington State. There are many questions. We’ll discuss the following and more:

Why is our current financing of healthcare unsustainable?
Are we really spending enough money to cover everyone?
How can business, retirees, families, government employees and hospitals all benefit?
How can single-payer lower our taxes?
Why are some businesses shouldering an unfair portion of the burden?
How are other businesses making extreme profits from our current system?
Where is all the money is going and what we should do about it?
What is the bill before our legislature?
Why is our current method a threat to rural hospitals and family practitioners?
How is the U.S. lagging behind other nations in what we pay and what we receive?
How many of our citizens face the terror of not having healthcare coverage?
What organizations oppose a solution? Why would they do so?
Why do uninformed citizens oppose single-payer and how we should approach them?
How can single-payer be self-funding?
Why are we discussing this at the local and state level?
Should we call it “Medicare for All?”
What are some overlooked benefits to changing our system?
Why should this be an apolitical issue?

We’ll have statements by the panel and a full hour of Q &A.
Please attend and get involved. Bring any skeptics with you.

Below are links to some documents that go over more detail for the Washington Health Security Trust.  Please note, the bill is being revised and will have some slight changes when it is considered for the 2015 legislative session.  A new bill description and analysis will also be drafted that matches the new and improved version of the bill.  The full bill text linked to below is again the version from 2013.  Nonetheless, these documents will provide a lot of relevant detailed information about the WHST.

• WHST-Presentation-20141106 (2)
• WHST-by-sections-HB1085-highlights (2013 version)
• WHST BILL DESCRIPTION
• HOUSE BILL 1085 ANALYSIS
• The Bill Summary from 2013
• Full Text of HB 1085 (2013 version)

Here are some highlights:

For over twenty years, government reports, economic analyses and anecdotal accounts have repeatedly shown that Washingtonians spend more than we can afford and get less heath care than we need. We spend more than $40 billion each year on health coverage and health care, yet about a million Washington residents have no health insurance at all. Many more are underinsured. Costs of coverage are rising much faster than wages, leaving workers constantly in fear of being unable to continue to afford their health insurance or its cost-sharing requirements. Medical bills, even for people with health insurance at the beginning of illness, are the leading cause of over 50% of personal bankruptcies.

The Affordable Care Act only partially deals with the issue of affordability of health insurance and health care.

Our solution – the Washington Health Security Trust (WHST)

Health Care for All – Washington (HCFA-WA) has written legislation to create a single public trust fund, the Washington Health Security Trust. The fund is dedicated to paying for a defined set of health services for all state residents.

The WHST would, essentially, collect the money we now spend on health insurance and health care from the same sources as at present (employers, individuals, state government, and the federal government), and put those funds into the Trust. The WHST can cover high quality, comprehensive health care for all residents without additional revenue.

And some details on how the WHST will be administered:

The Washington Health Security Trust (WHST) is created to provide health coverage to all Washington residents (non-residents are covered for emergency services and transportation only). The WHST is governed by a board of trustees (Board) consisting of nine members. The Governor appoints the initial members to the Board to staggered terms. After the initial round of appointments, members of the Board will be elected by congressional district. Members of the Board may have no pecuniary interest in any business subject to Board regulation and may be removed by the Governor for failing to perform or for conflict with the public interest. The Board must appoint a financial advisory committee, a citizens’ advisory committee, and a technical advisory committee.