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The Healthy Washington Coalition recently hosted its first in a series of important public meetings about the five health care reform proposals that will be considered by state lawmakers. If you missed it, you still have plenty of chances to participate in this critically important discussion. The next meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. TONIGHT (Tuesday, July 1) at Temple Beth El, 5975 S. 12th St. in Tacoma.

Here is the coalition's press release following last week's meeting in Seattle:

SEATTLE – Cover everyone. This is the most important principle to people in the Seattle area when it comes to health care. More than 350 people turned out last night for a Health Care Caucus to discuss what they hope to see from an effort by the Washington State Legislature to reform our state health care system.  While covering everyone was the dominant theme of the night, the other principles for health care reform that were identified as top priorities were: assuring the cost of health care, including prescriptions, is affordable; eliminating disparities in access to health care and in health outcomes based on factors such as income, ethnicity, job status; and covering all necessary health care expenses.

“There was overwhelming unity of purpose and urgency around this issue,” said Teresita Batayola, executive director of International Community Health Services.  “Based on the passionate testimony and conversations we heard, it’s clear that people are demanding action now.”  Batayola presented on overview of the problems we face from the current health care system.

Hosted by the Healthy Washington Coalition, the caucus was one of seven events being held throughout the state to help people have their voice heard on the five proposals that will be considered by the State.

As a result of work in the 2008 Legislative session by the coalition and its more than 100 member organizations and other health care champions, the State Legislature has identified five health care proposals that will have an actuarial analysis by Mathematica Incorporated. The report on the findings, which is due at the end of December 2008, should clarify what health care reform proposals might work best for Washington.

The five plans being considered by the State range the gamut from ones that model the Massachusetts health care plan to a single payer plan to private insurance deregulation. Each will receive an analysis to see how effectively it can deliver care to Washingtonians and at what cost. The Health Care Caucuses will provide an important link for legislators in knowing what people value most in their health care plan.

Six more caucuses will be held throughout the state from July to September. Additional cities include Tacoma, Yakima, Spokane, Bellevue, Everett and Vancouver.

“600,000 people in this state do not have health care. Hundreds of thousands have plans that are barely scrimping by. Ever escalating costs are driving even more people into the ranks of the uninsured or underinsured. If the people in our state step up and make ourselves heard, we can change the face of health care in this state. We have an amazing opportunity to realize that goal right now,” said Robby Stern, Coalition chair.

The Healthy Washington Coalition is the largest health care reform organization that has existed in Washington State in recent history. Made up of health care organizations, consumer groups, labor and small business, the Coalition is dedicated to ensuring that Washington State has quality, affordable health care coverage for all of its residents.

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