It’s time for the State Legislature to take action to expand choices for affordable health care in Washington State. That’s why UFCW Local 21 is a leader in the Healthy Washington Coalition, which unites dozens of unions, community groups, and health care providers behind the goal of securing quality, affordable health care choices for Washington families. Our agenda includes:

Health insurance rate-hike accountability:

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner should have the power to review and approve health insurance premiums. We need to limit the insurance companies’ ability to deny benefits and price people out of the market for individual coverage.

Update: The Insurance Rate Hike Accountability Act has passed the Legislature on a wave of grassroots support!

Prescription privacy:

The Prescription Privacy Bill would limit drug companies’ ability to purchase data about what medicines a doctor prescribes. Doctors should decide how to care for their patients — without interference from drug company salespeople.

Continue our commitment to children’s health:

Last year, we fought to pass a landmark law that ensured health care coverage for all Washington children. We succeeded: the Legislature voted to pass the Cover All Kids bill, and Governor Gregoire signed it into law. The next step is to fully implement this law and make sure all kids in our state have access to affordable health care.

Ensure access to personal physicians:

More than 40% of our state’s communities are experiencing a shortage of primary care providers. By expanding State scholarships for physicians who practice primary care, we can attract help more family doctors to Washington State.

Expand choices for affordable health care:

We need to expand the state’s health care purchasing pool for small businesses and uninsured workers to tap the greatest possible bargaining power. A bigger purchasing pool means more power to negotiate for affordable health care choices — and everyone benefits when more of us have access to quality health care.

Explore real health care choices for the future:

We have proposed to establish a working group to analyze different options to make our health care system work better. After a year of study, the panel will present the Legislature with at least 3 alternative plans that would guarantee secure, affordable, quality health care choices for everyone in our state.