Matt Ready

On December 3, 2014, the Jefferson County Public Hospital District #2 board of commissioners voted unanimously to approve the following resolution in support of single payer healthcare:

JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO. 2
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 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.

APPROVED THIS 3rd day of December, 2014.
JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO. 2

The adoption of this resolution in support of single payer was a historic event as I believe we are the first and only Washington State public hospital district to pass a resolution in support of a single payer healthcare system.  On the other hand, I think my fellow commissioners would agree with me that it would be an empty gesture to endorse a political goal yet refuse to support any actual legislative efforts aimed at achieving that goal.  The version of this resolution that contained support for the actual legislation for Washington State single payer healthcare was voted down 4 to 1 with me being the only supporter.  This is the paragraph that was struck down:

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.

Since we were unable to agree on support for specific single payer legislation during this meeting, we have more work to do to make our support for single payer truly meaningful.  Nonetheless, this is a great first step and I look forward to working with the other commissioners to substantively support a single payer system, the only type of healthcare system that can be cost effective, high quality, sustainable, and accessible to everyone.

The discussion with Representative Tharinger about sponsoring WHST starts at 39:15.