Seattle’s Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal introduced the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2018 last week. The new bill would allow states to develop their own plans to provide access to health care for all of their residents. It would provide states with access to federal funding streams and regulatory flexibility to support affordable, universal health care plans. Participating states would develop plans to ensure access to health care for 95% of their residents. They’d have five years to achieve their target or develop a new plan, and they would have to ensure that coverage is equal to or greater than what beneficiaries receive now. Jayapal acknowledges that the bill’s success hinges on Democrats taking back the House but in the meantime, it is an important vehicle for discussion about how to move forward on health care access.