Thursday, May 29, 2003

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Thursday, May 29, 2003


UNIVERSAL ACCESS MOVES FORWARD IN THE SENATE

Senate Appropriations Committee today acted to pass two universal coverage
bills, SB921 by Senator Sheila Kuehl, the single payer bill, and SB2 by
Senators John Burton and Jackie Speier, the employer mandate measure. Both
passed on party-line votes with all eight Democrats voting aye and all five
Republicans voting no. Aye votes included: Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia,
Karnette, Machado, Murray, Speier. No votes were: Battin, Aanestad, Ashburn,
Johnson, and Poochigian.

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MOVES SOME HEALTH BILLS, TEMPORARILY DELAYS OTHERS

Senate Appropriations acted on a long list of other measures that had fiscal
consequences for state government. SB853 by Senator Marta Escutia to require
HMOs to assure provision of culturally and linguistically competent health
care to Californians with commercial insurance also passed on a 8-4 vote.

SB379 by Senator Ortiz which would provide some protections for self-pay
hospital patients was temporarily held in committee: negotiations are
continuing on amendments to reduce the cost to state government and the
measure may move next week.

MORE ACTION OVER THE NEXT WEEK

By Friday, June 6, Assembly bills must pass the Assembly and Senate bills
must pass the Senate in order to remain alive for this year. Bills that fail
to pass the house of origin by the end of next week are not available to be
heard again until January of 2004.

Also, during the next week, it is anticipated that both houses will debate
and vote on the budget so that the budget conference committee can begin its
work. ATTACHED is an UPDATED Health Budget Cuts SCORECARD, reflecting the
content of the Senate and Assembly budgets with regards to the proposed health
cuts.


VOTING RECORD ON SB921 AND SB2

Because both of these universal coverage bills have now passed three
committees in the Senate, there is a clear voting record on both. SB2 has been considered by a strict party-line vote.

SB921 Vote Record

18 AYES To Date

1. Alpert
2. Alarcon
3. Bowen
4. Burton
5. Chesbro
6. Escutia
7. Figueroa
8. Florez
9. Karnette
10.Kuehl
11.Machado
12.Murray
13.Ortiz
14.Perata
15.Romero
16.Speier
17.Soto
18.Vincent

NOES To Date

1. Aanestad
2. Ashburn
3. Battin
4. Johnson
5. Morrow
6. Oller
7. Poochigian

While present during committee votes, Senators Scott and Vasconcellos voted for SB 2 but not for SB 921, raising concerns about the state budget crisis and assuring adequate funding of the health care system in a similar budget crisis in the future. Only five Democratic Senators have not had the opportunity to vote on either bill in committee. They include Senator Gil Cedillo, a co-sponsor of SB 921. Since 21 votes are needed to pass the Senate, advocates for the uninsured should urge these Democrats to vote for SB 2 and SB 921, as well as all Republican Senators.

* Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny - capitol phone/916.445.6767, capitol fax/916.327.3522
district office phone (Chula Vista)/619.409.7690

* Senator Joe Dunn - capitol office phone/916.445.5831, capitol office fax/916.323.2323
district office phone (Garden Grove)/714.705.1580

* Senator Bryon Sher - capitol phone/916.445.6747, capitol fax/916.323.4529
district office phone (San Jose)/408.277.9460

* Senator Tom Torlakson - capitol phone/916.445.6083, capitol fax/916.445.2527
district office phone (Concord)/925.602.6593

--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 7:48 PM


 

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Wednesday, May 28th, 2003


* ASSEMBLY AND SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEES APPROVE RESTORATIONS TO HEALTH, FOR NOW

In the past two days, the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees considered and passed the recommendations of the respective budget subcommittees. In both cases, they re-affirmed the work of the Subcommittees on Health to restore many of the significant health cuts to Medi-Cal.

Both Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, and Senator Wes Chesbro, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, cautioned that these are "working documents" and major changes could be made, especially depending on other decisions as the process works its way forward.


* ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS DECIDES ON HOST OF BILLS

Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, announced that given the bad budget year, many of the bills in his committee would not move forward. This includes literally hundreds of bills that called for studies and reports, as well as major and minor initiatives with cost implications. In fact, Assemblyman Steinberg calculated that the Appropriations Committee was passing only one percent of the amount of spending proposed and submitted to his committee.

Bills of note to health advocates:

* AB 30 (Richman), AB 1527 (Frommer), and AB 1528 (Cohn) were passed out, as "vehicles" for "health access expansions" set for a Conference Committee with Senate. These bills must pass the Assembly by Friday, June 6th to move forward.

* AB 154 (Chan) on the reporting of culturally and linguistically competent care, AB 910 (Diaz) on hospital mergers, and AB 1163 (Frommer) on the retention of children in Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, were held by the committee. These bills will stay "on suspense" until January 2004, when they then must pass out of Appropriations Committee and the full Assembly by the end of that month to stay alive and in consideration.

* The committee did pass out several pro-consumer measures, on party line votes: AB 103 (Reyes) on the disclosure of drug company gift to providers, AB 232 (Chan) on consumer protections for self-pay and uninsured hospital patients, and AB 1629 (Frommer) on disclosure of hospital billing. (Frommer's other bills on the subject, AB 1627 and AB 1628, had passed out previously.) These bills will come to the Assembly Floor within the next week. ACTION: PLEASE CONTACT ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF THESE HEALTH CARE CONSUMER MEASURES.


* CALENDAR ADDITIONS/FLYERS ATTACHED:

* CORRECTION: The BRIEFING on "Health Insurance for Children" by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, is this Friday, MAY 30TH in Sacramento at the State Capitol, and JUNE 9TH in Los Angeles at UCLA. Both events are 10:00am-12noon. Informational flyer ATTACHED. Limited travel awards may be available to facilitate attendance at these meetings. To RSVP, contact Giovanna@gacconsult.com.

* For those in Sacramento in a more action-oriented mode, Justice for Janitors will be holding DAY-LONG ACTION on Friday, MAY 30th, in support of family health benefits. Sacramento-area janitors have their contracts expire on May 31st, and little progress is being made to ensure that these janitors, who work hard and pay taxes, yet do have have health benefits for their families. ATTACHED is a flyer with more information. For more information, contact Ana Godina, SEIU Local 1877, Justice for Janitors, 916-563-6920.

* Also ATTACHED is a flyer and a schedule of the various TOWN HALL MEETINGS sponsored by the Pacific Institute for Community Organization - California Project. Most are SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH, scheduled in cities up and down the state. Over 8,000 people are projected to attend these meetings. For more information, see the schedule for the contact person for the town hall near you.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 7:47 PM


 

Tuesday, May 27, 2003

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Tuesday, May 27, 2003

RESOURCES FOR ADVOCATES

* BELOW is a CALENDAR of activities of interest to health advocates. Note tomorrow's HMO Consumer Advocacy Symposium in Sacramento, and the two upcoming briefings, in both Sacramento and Los Angeles, by the Packard Foundation on "Health Insurance for Children," which will feature key discussions for health advocates.

* Another important is the PRESS CONFERENCE scheduled for next MONDAY, JUNE 2nd, at 9:30am at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Legislators, such as Assembly Majority Leader Wilma Chan, and organizations, such as AARP and Health Access California, will urge the passage of the Governor's revenue package and full restoration of the upper tax brackets to prevent the proposed Medi-Cal cuts now and in the future.
* ACTION #1: Please RETURN THE ATTACHED SIGN-ON FORM ASAP, by the end of the week, so that we may have strong organizational support for the revenues needed to prevent health cuts.
* ACTION #2: Please ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE to show your organization's visible support for the upper tax brackets. Attendees should come by at 9:15am on Monday, June 2nd.

* ATTACHED is a short (one-page, two-sided) version of the Health Care Budget Cuts SCORECARD, that only includes those cuts included in the Governor's May Revision of the Budget, and the Legislature's actions to date. Please contact Health Access for a copy of the expanded scorecard, which includes the fate of proposed cuts last year and in mid-year reductions.


SHORT CALENDAR OF EVENTS

* Wed. May 28th: SYMPOSIUM: “Putting the Pieces Together” HMO Consumer Advocacy Symposium, sponsored by the Office of Patient Advocate. Sacramento Convention Center. For registration, call 1-916-608-8686 or visit www.opa.ca.gov

* BRIEFING AND POLICY DISCUSSION: "Health Insurance for Children," sponsored by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Discussion with the contributing authors of the Foundation’s most recent journal issue of The Future of Children. 10:00am-12noon. Informational flyer ATTACHED. Limited travel awards may be available to facilitate attendance at these meetings. To RSVP, contact Giovanna@gacconsult.com.
* SACRAMENTO: Friday, May 10th: California State Capitol, Room 4203.
* LOS ANGELES: Monday, June 9th: UCLA Campus

* Mon. June 2nd: PRESS CONFERENCE: Legislators and organizations show support for the full restoration of the upper tax brackets in order to prevent proposed Medi-Cal cuts. Governor's Press Room, State Capitol, Sacramento. 9:30am. To RSVP, contact Anthony Wright, 916-442-2308, awright@health-access.org.

* Thu. June 5th: CONFERENCE: “Keeping All of California Moving: Exploring the Links Between Transportation, Social Equity and Public Health.” Keynote speaker is John Ferrara, Assistant Secretary for Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Presented by the California Alliance for Transportation Choices. 8:0am-4:00pm. Sierra Health Foundation, 1321 Garden Highway, Sacramento. To register, call Odyssey at 916-448-1687 x 313, or E-mail kerry@odyssey.org.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 9:30 PM


 

Saturday, May 24, 2003

HEALTH ACCESS ALERT
Friday, May 23rd, 2003

* BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEES RESTORE HEALTH CUTS, FOR THE MOMENT
* VICTORY ON FEDERAL MEDICAID RELIEF
* UPCOMING ACTIONS: TOWN HALL MEETINGS, LEGISLATIVE VISITS


BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEES WORK TO RESTORE HEALTH CUTS... FOR THE MOMENT

In the last two days, the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees on Health, respectively chaired by Assemblywoman Judy Chu and Senator Wes Chesbro, voted to restore most of the Medi-Cal cuts proposed in the Governor's May Revise. In making these motions, Senator Chesbro cautioned emphatically that "everything is still on the table" until "other significant decisions" are made. Such decisions include, of course, the question on raising revenues.

ATTACHED is an UPDATED SCORECARD of the budget cuts. It details the actions of both budget subcommittees on each of the proposed cuts. Cuts rejected included:
* the elimination of many "optional" benefits, including dental care and medical supplies;
* the 15% reduction in provider rates, including doctors and nursing homes, and
* the elimination of free Medi-Cal for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.

These proposed budgets then go to the full Budget Committees of the Senate and Assembly in the next week.


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSES STATE FISCAL RELIEF.

Under the new budget plan agreed to in the U.S. Congress in the last few days, California is expected to receive $2.443.7 billion in state fiscal relief, including $1,291.9 in additional Medicaid matching funds, and $1,151.8 in grants to state and local governments.

This total package of $20 billion nationally for state fiscal relief is a major victory for the Senate, given that neither President Bush nor the House included aid to struggling states in their initial budgets. The bad news is that this is part of a budget that includes massive tax cuts that will undoubtedly force cuts to health and other vital services in future years.

Specific key points about the aid, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
* Each state would receive a 2.95 percentage point increase in its federal Medicaid matching rate, after applying the "hold harmless" provisions (which would ignore that a state's rate was recently reduced). The aid is effective for the last two quarters of FFY 2003 and the first three quarters of FFY 2004 (April 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004).
· The matching rate increase would not apply to DSH payments, Medicaid payments already receiving an enhanced matching rate, and other federal programs where federal payments are calculated based on the federal Medicaid matching rate.
· States may not reduce Medicaid eligibility levels below the levels effective as of September 2, 2003 in order to receive the across-the-board matching rate increase during the effective period. If a state does reduce eligibility levels, it can receive the across-the-board matching rate increase in the first calendar quarter in which it reinstates eligibility levels effective as of September 2, 2003.


PICO TOWN HALL MEETINGS

The Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) California Project is preparing for 20 town hall meetings on the state budget to be held over the weekend of June 8th. Over 8,000 PICO members are expected to attend. Also attending will be school superintendents, local health clinic directors and other community groups. These meetings will take place in both Republican and Democratic districts.

In each meeting, community leaders will discuss how the proposed budget cuts will affect that particular community and will urge their legislators to make no more cuts in health, education and affordable housing. Leaders will ask the legislators to commit to return to their local districts, after the budget has passed, to explain how their vote will affect their local communities. ATTACHED is an updated chart that lists the meeting locations and legislators whom have been invited. If your organization would like to participate, please contact the staffperson listed on the chart.


LEGISLATIVE VISITS

Health Access California, California Church Impact, Congress of California Seniors, and Working Assets have set up a couple dozen meetings with legislative offices, to urge the need for revenues to prevent severe cuts in health and other vital services.

While many of our meetings are full to capacity, we are still looking for community leaders, concerned citizens, and others to join these coalition delegations in the key districts listed below. If you are interested in attending a meeting with your legislator, and he or she is listed below, please sign up at: http://www.workingassets.com/realsolution3

Offices of Assemblyman Abel Maldonado: Morning of Friday, June 6, San Luis Obispo
Offices of Assemblyman Dave Cogdill: Morning of Tuesday, June 10, Modesto
Offices of Assemblyman George Nakano: Morning of Friday, June 6, Torrance
Offices of Assemblyman Guy S. Houston: Morning of Friday, June 6, Livermore
Offices of Assemblyman John A. Dutra: Morning of Friday, June 6, Fremont
Offices of Assemblyman John Campbell: Morning of Friday, June 6, Irvine
Offices of Assemblyman Joseph Canciamilla: Afternoon of Friday, June 6, Martinez
Offices of Assemblyman Mark Wyland: Morning of Friday, June 6, Vista
Offices of Assemblyman Rick Keene: Morning of Friday, June 6, Chico
Offices of Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia: Morning of Friday, June 6, Cathedral City
Offices of Assemblywoman Lois Wolk: Morning of Friday, June 6, Vacaville
Offices of Senator Bill Morrow: Afternoon of Friday, June 6, Carlsbad
Offices of Senator Bruce McPherson: Afternoon of Friday, June 6, Salinas
Offices of Senator Charles Poochigian: Morning of Friday, June 6, Fresno
Offices of Senator James Brulte: Afternoon of Friday, June 6, Rancho Cucamonga
Offices of Senator Richard Ackerman: Afternoon of Friday, June 6, Tustin
Offices of Senator Tom Torlakson: Morning of Friday, June 6, Concord

If you know people, organization members, friends, staff colleagues, relatives, neighbors, or others who would be interested in meeting with their legislator on this important issue, please direct them to the website, at http://www.workingassets.com/realsolution3.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 4:10 PM


 

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

HEALTH ACCESS ALERT
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

THREE WAYS TO HELP SAVE MEDI-CAL
* Legislative Visits (dozens scheduled; simply join up at web site & tell others)
* Letters-to-the-Editor (samples attached)
* Support Upper Tax Brackets to Restore Medi-Cal (sign-on sheet attached, press conf. scheduled)

Here in Sacramento, budget subcommittees are now meeting to consider the Governor's May Revision of the budget. However, the fate of the proposed Medi-Cal cuts will now depend on the public activity, and the will to raise the revenues needed to prevent such cuts. Please help on these three specific actions.


* JOIN SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE VISITS: NEED PARTICIPANTS TO URGE REVENUES TO RESTORE CUTS

Meetings with over two dozen key legislators have been scheduled in the first week of June to urge them to support the revenues needed to restore cuts to health care and other vital services. To find out about and SIGN UP TO ATTEND A LOCAL MEETING WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR, visit:
http://www.workingassets.com/realsolution3

As you know, proposals to balance the state's $38 billion deficit by spending cuts alone will cripple public schools, leave thousands of working families without health care and slash aid to the elderly and blind. Governor Davis has proposed major cuts to services and an increase in revenues, including restoring the top tax brackets on the highest income earners and the vehicle license fee. Only a tax increase larger as the Governor's plan will protect essential public services. In order to take the courageous step to pass these increases, California legislators need to hear from their own constituents that they support a real solution to the state’s fiscal crisis.

Working Assets, Health Access California, California Church Impact, and the Congress of California Seniors are teaming up to provide both community leaders and constituents with the opportunity to discuss this vital issue with your legislator or his/her district director. We've already scheduled the visit, but we are looking for more constituents and community leaders to join the delegation. To find out about and sign up to attend a local meeting with your legislator, visit: http://www.workingassets.com/realsolution3

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR KEY PEOPLE TO HELP LEAD THESE DELEGATIONS. It would be great to have those who can talk about how these budget cuts affect their work, as well as people just to bring the basic message. These meetings are intended to be respectful discussions, not rallies or demonstrations. The tone of the discussion should be constructive and not adversarial. If the Senator or Assemblymember is not available, we will meet with senior staff. Gaining a staff ally is also important.

INVITE OTHERS TO VISIT THEIR LEGISLATOR. Do you have like-minded organization members, colleagues, staffers, friends, and/or neighbors who would be interested in attending a local meeting with a legislator? Visit http://www.workingassets.com/tellfriendsrealsolution to send a quick message about this exciting opportunity. This is a great way to involve your members in a budget activity.


* SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DECRYING THE MEDI-CAL CUTS, URGING REVENUES

The pundits say that the most read part of any newspaper is the letters to the editor, and legislators eager to sense the pulse of their community are religious readers themselves. We urge all advocates for the uninsured to send just one letter to the editor in the two weeks. (If just a fraction of the people getting this alert do so, that could generate over a hundred published letters.)

SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR of your local newspaper, whether it is a small-town weekly or a major daily. While we encourage you to write your own, ATTACHED are some sample letters to help you get started. Some tips include:
* Make it short. Most papers restrict letters to 150 words.
* Make only a few key points concisely. For example: The Medi-Cal cuts would have severe impacts. We need to prevent such cuts by raising revenues. There's no need to get more complicated than that.
* You are more likely to be published if you craft it to respond to a recently-run article. With the recent announcement of the May Revision, and ongoing coverage of the budget crisis, there are ample articles that can be responded to with a short letter.


* SIGN-ON TO SUPPORT FULL RESTORATION OF THE UPPER TAX BRACKETS TO RESTORE MEDI-CAL CUTS

Health Access is seeking organizations to support a full restoration of the upper tax brackets to provide the revenues needed to prevent the Medi-Cal cuts. We have tentatively scheduled a press conference for Monday, June 2nd at 10am in Sacramento for organizations to urge the restoration of Medi-Cal by restoring the upper tax brackets. ATTACHED is a sign-on sheet. WE NEED SIGN-ONS ASAP for this upcoming press event with legislators.

THE CUTS TO PREVENT: While the Governor's May Revise would restore health in some key areas, it still proposes to go ahead by the vast majority of cuts proposed, totalling $1.15 billion, which would:
* Impose a requirement for low-income working parents to file quarterly status reports, for the express purpose of having hundreds of thousands fall off Medi-Cal coverage;
* Impose costs onto tens of thousands of very low-income seniors and people with disabilities, by reducing eligibility for no-cost Medi-Cal.
* Eliminate a range of 14 medically necessary benefits for around 3 million parents, seniors, and people with disabilities on Medi-Cal, including medical supplies, dental, vision, medical equipment, hearing aids, rehab therapy, and others.
* Reduce Medi-Cal provider rates by 15%, which would lead some doctors, nursing homes, and health providers to not provide care to the 6.5 million Californians on Medi-Cal.

THE REVENUES PROPOSED: The Governor's May Revise includes a revenue package that includes a half-cent sales tax, creation of a 10.3 percent upper tax bracket, and 23-40 cent tobacco tax, raising around $4 billion. (It also expects the vehicle license fee to be restored, raising another $4 billion for a total $8 billion.) Without these revenues, even steeper cuts would need to be made.

RESTORING THE TAX CUTS MADE IN THE GOOD TIMES: In order to restore the Medi-Cal cuts listed, we need to raise revenues above the Governor's May Revise proposal. In the January budget, the Governor actually proposed a full restoration of both the 10% and 11% tax brackets on high-income earners. Governor Pete Wilson signed a measure adding the 10% and 11% tax brackets in 1991 when faced with a similar budget crisis. These were repealed during financially prosperous times of the 1990s. The impact would be felt on just the top 2.4% of California taxpayers, who are disproportionately benefitting from the Bush tax cuts, and would be able to deduct these increase on their federal taxes. The proposal would:
* Restore a 10% tax rate on single taxpayers with taxable incomes (after deductions) over $130,000 a year, or married taxpayers over $260,000.
* Restore a 11% tax rate on single taxpayers with taxable incomes (after deductions) over $260,000 a year, or married taxpayers over $520,000.

RESTORING MEDI-CAL BY RESTORING THE UPPER TAX BRACKETS: Raising the upper tax bracket would raise $2.7 billion, about a billion dollars more than the Governor's May proposal of adding just a 10.3 percent bracket. A billion dollars is approximately the amount needed to restore the pending Medi-Cal cuts. And unlike additional "deficit financing" and other borrowing efforts, this would be ongoing revenues that could help prevent such cuts in the future.

PRESS CONFERENCE: Health Access and other organizations have tentatively scheduled a press conference for MONDAY, JUNE 2ND, at 10:00AM. We hope to have over 50 organizations signed onto this effort, and 25 organizations present, standing alongside key legislators who oppose the Medi-Cal cuts and support the needed revenues.

PLEASE SIGN-ON to the ATTACHED statement ASAP, and encourage other organizations to sign-on as well, IN THE NEXT WEEK. You can E-MAIL your SIGN-ON to Louise Jones at Health Access, at ljones@health-access.org.

On the attached form, organizations can sign onto a broader statement in support of eliminating the Manufacturers Investment Tax Credit, which would generate about $400 million more for health and other vital programs. For more information, check out the brief by the California Budget Project at http://www.cbp.org/2003/bb030404mic.pdf. Organizations can also check off to sign onto an additional statement opposing spending freezes and other such limits that would force significant health cuts in future years. If your organization does not have policy on either of these issues, then simply send back the form with just the basic statement, which is all we need for the upcoming press conference.

The statement reads as follows:

"We support revenues to prevent devastating cuts to health and other vital services. Our organizations support, at a minimum, the revenue package in the Governor’s May Revise Budget package, including the increase in the sales tax and tobacco tax, as well as the full restoration of the upper tax brackets* to restore the proposed cuts in Medi-Cal.

"Our organizations oppose these severe cuts in Medi-Cal that would deny Californians basic health coverage, benefits, and access to providers. Additional revenues from the full restoration of the 10% and 11% tax brackets would provide over a billion dollars needed to restore the proposed Medi-Cal cuts, now and into the future."

___ YES! We give permission for our organization’s name to be used in materials for the press, policymakers, and the public as a supporter of the statement above.

Organization:

Authorized Signatory:

Contact Person:

Title:

Address:

Phone:

E-mail:



--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 11:45 PM


 

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Wednesday, May 14th, 2003


MAY REVISE UPDATE
* Some Health Cuts Withdrawn; Most Cuts Still Under Consideration
* Additional Revenues Needed to Restore Severe Cuts to Health and Other Vital Services


This afternoon, the Governor released his May Revision of the budget, which sought to address a revised $38.2 billion budget gap in the state budget. It is available at http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/BUD_DOCS/Bud_link.htm.

REVENUES: The budget would raise some revenues, although none directly for the general fund.
* The proposal would "finance the deficit" by issuing a $10.7 billion bond, paid back with a temporary half-cent sales tax increase that raises $1.7 billion in 2003-04, and $2.4 billion in subsequent years.
* The Governor's proposal for realignment, shifting state programs to the county level, has been scaled back (from $8.3 billion in the January budget) to $1.8 billion for 2003-04. This would be financed by an increases in taxes for tobacco and those in the upper tax bracket (which are more modest than those proposed in the January budget).
* Finally, the proposal expects that local government's vehicle license fee will be restored to levels before they were reduced, raising $4.2 billion.

Also of note, the budget does not rely on the previously-agreed plan to sell the remaining bonds that would securitize tobacco settlement revenue.

HEALTH IMPACT: For health advocates, the news continues to be a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. ATTACHED is an updated scorecard that indicates the current status of all the proposed health care cuts.

THE GOOD: Recognizing the severity of the proposed Medi-Cal cuts, the Governor has withdrawn a couple of his proposals, including:
* the "1931b" eligibility cut that would have denied basic Medi-Cal coverage hundreds of thousands of low-income working parents who fall under the federal poverty level;
* the cut that would have eliminated a few of the "optional" yet medically necessary benefits, including orthotics, prosthetic limbs, hospice care, medical transportation, and family planning devices; and
* the realignment proposals for counties to pick up the responsibility for 15% of the cost of Medi-Cal, and for various "Healthy Communities" public health programs that fund community clinics and other providers. The Governor will defer consideration of a broader realignment effort until the next budget cycle.

THE BAD: The Governor's proposal still includes the bulk of the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal, that would deny access to basic care and services to millions of Californians. The proposal still would:
* Impose a requirement for low-income working parents to file quarterly status reports, for the express purpose of having hundreds of thousands fall off Medi-Cal coverage;
* Eliminate a range of 14 medically necessary benefits for around 3 million parents, seniors, and people with disabilities on Medi-Cal, including medical supplies, dental, vision, medical equipment, hearing aids, rehab therapy, and others.
* Reduce Medi-Cal provider rates by 15%, which would lead some doctors, nursing homes, and health providers to not provide care to the 6.5 million Californians on Medi-Cal.

THE UGLY: The overall package, including the deficit financing, leaves a system that would keep health care services vulnerable to major cuts in future years. The Governor and Director of Finance Steve Peace stressed that this is an attempt to break through the current legislative gridlock and pass a budget on time, but that it does not solve the ongoing problems.
In the introduction, the document summarizes this point: "The May Revision proposal will balance the 2003-04 Budget, finance the current year deficit in a prudent and credible way, and close a substantial portion of the structural deficit. But it will require that the Legislature continue work on structural issues after the budget is passed."

Ultimately, health advocates should to organize and argue for the additional revenues needed to sustainably fund the health care and other vital services on which Californians rely.

BUDGET ALLIES MEETING: Sacramento-based advocates are invited to a "Budget Allies" meeting scheduled for MONDAY, MAY 19th at 12:00noon, at the conference room of the California Labor Federation, 1127 11th Street, Suite 425. The agenda includes an overview of the May Revise by Jean Ross of the California Budget Project and others; an update on the Budget Accountability Act effort; multiple organizations will discuss the coalition activities they are planning around the budget in the next few weeks. Feel free to bring your lunch.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 7:05 PM


 

HEALTH ACCESS ALERT
Tuesday, May 13th, 2003

* May Revise Upcoming; Schedule of Budget Activities
* Next Steps for Access Expansion Bills in CA Senate
* Federal Budget in U.S Senate; Phone Calls Needed

MAY REVISE UPCOMING

Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14th, around noon, Governor Davis will announce the "May Revision" of the 2003-04 state budget, based on new fiscal information, and will include modified proposals, as well as possible additional proposed cuts in health and other vital services. Health Access will report on the status of proposals to cut Medi-Cal and other health care programs.

In anticipation, here's a brief calendar of what comes next:
* In late May, the Subcommittees will quickly make decisions, which will then go to the full Budget Committees, respectively chaired by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza and Senator Wes Chesbro.
* As early as the beginning of June, the framework of a possible budget package could be set. Either way, negotiations continue between the Governor and leadership of both houses and both parties ("the Big Five.")
* In early June, the budgets of the two houses are scheduled to go to a Budget Conference Committee to be reconciled. The Budget Conference Committee can make additional cuts or changes.
* Before the start of the new fiscal year July 1st, a final budget is scheduled to pass both houses and be sent to Governor for signature. The Governor has the ability to veto budget items.
* Without a budget passed and signed, the process may continue in July and beyond. The passage of the budget is often late, and last year took two additional months to finalize. However, advocates should be ready for on-time passage, and be prepared for a more drawn-out process.

ATTACHED from the California Budget Project is a recently released Budget Brief, entitled "Governor's Proposed Medi-Cal Reductions Would Harm Enrollees, Providers, and Local Economies." Of particular note and usefulness is the attached chart that shows the *county-by-county* impact of selected Medi-Cal reductions, by number of individual affected, and by loss of funds. This is also available at the CBP website, at http://www.cbp.org/. Also at their web site, check out "The 2003-04 Budget Deficit: Where Are We Today?" which has useful charts comparing the Governor's January budget with the Assembly Republican and Senate Republican budget plans.


ACCESS EXPANSION BILLS GO TO APPROPRIATIONS

Two major health access expansion bills, SB 2 (Burton/Speier) and SB 921 (Kuehl), are expected to be "placed on suspense" in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The deadline for these bills be voted out of the committee is Friday, May 30th. These bills will then need to be passed out of the Senate by Friday, June 6th. If either bill fails to pass the Senate by June 6th, it is technically not available to proceed until January 2004, and must pass the Senate by January 31st, 2004 or it dies.

The members of the Senate Appropriations Committee include:

Senator Dede Alpert (Chair) [D-San Diego]
Senator Jim Battin (Vice-Chair) [R-La Quinta/Palm Desert/Riverside]
Senator Samuel Aanestad [R-Grass Valley/Nevada City/Chico/Redding]
Senator Roy Ashburn [R-Bakersfield]
Senator Debra Bowen [D-Marina Del Rey/Redondo Beach/Los Angeles]
Senator John Burton [D-San Francisco/San Rafael]
Senator Martha Escutia [D-Whittier/Norwalk/Los Angeles]
Senator Ross Johnson [R-Irvine/Orange County]
Senator Betty Karnette [D-Long Beach/Los Angeles]
Senator Michael Machado [D-Linden/Sacramento/Davis/Stockton]
Senator Kevin Murray [D-Los Angeles/Culver City]
Senator Charles Poochigian [R-Fresno/Ripon/Modesto]
Senator Jackie Speier [D-San Francisco/San Mateo]

Both bills will require 21 votes to pass the full Senate. (SB 2 is financed through a fee structure, and is a majority-vote bill. While SB 921 would typically--and will ultimately--require a two-thirds vote, the bill currently does not include its financing package, and so simply needs a majority vote to move forward.)

Democratic Senators Chesbro, Ortiz, Speier, Perata, Figueroa, Florez, Alarcon, Kuehl, Romero, Vincent, Escutia, and Soto have already voted for both bills when the Senate Health Committee and/or the Senate Insurance Committee considered them in the past few weeks. (Also, Democratic Senators Scott and Vasconcellos voted for SB 2, and abstained on SB 921.) Since many of the remaining Democratic Senators are on the Senate Appropriations Committee, only four would not have had the opportunity to vote on these bills before a possible Senate floor vote:

Senator Gil Cedillo [D-Los Angeles]
Senator Tom Torlakson [D-Antioch/Concord/Contra Costa County]
Senator Byron Sher [D-Stanford/Palo Alto/San Jose]
Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny [D-San Diego/Chula Vista/El Centro/Coachella]

Health advocates should urge Senators to support both SB 2 and SB 921 in moving out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and past the full Senate. All legislators can be addressed at the State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 94248. Other contact information is available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/. The web pages and more detailed information on Senators can be reached more directly at http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp


FEDERAL ACTION ALERT ON BUDGET, TAXES, STATE FISCAL RELIEF:

The U.S. Senate is currently discussing the federal budget, and in particular key fiscal issues. Two key issues are whether to include $20 billion in fiscal aid to states (which could help prevent many of the proposed cuts to health and other vital services), and whether to pass a massive tax cut (which would starve resources for state aid, Medicare, Medicaid, and other vital programs, now and into the future).

ATTACHED is a flyer asking people to call their Senators on WEDNESDAY, MAY 14th, and offering the use of a *toll-free* number, 1-888-280-6279. Please call U.S. Senators this week and:
* Urge them to vote against any of the tax cut proposals.
* Also, (in the same or a different call) ask them to support the Collins State Fiscal Relief Amendment to the Tax Reconciliation bill.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Executive Director
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 7:04 PM


 

Wednesday, May 07, 2003

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
Wednesday, May 7th, 2003


** MID-YEAR CUTS: In the past week, the Legislature passed and the Governor
signed a series of bills that reduced the size of the state’s budget deficit
by $3.6 billion. Around half of that total is from the sale of pension
obligation bonds to make the state’s contributions to employees’ retirement
funds. It also includes real cuts to a range of programs and areas.

ATTACHED is a quick fact sheet from the Western Center on Law and Poverty on
the health care cuts. The most disturbing cut was the institution of
twice-yearly status reports for adults on Medi-Cal, which would burden
families with paperwork for the express purpose of having around 100,000
people fall off Medi-Cal health coverage. Many health advocates strongly
opposed the Governor's proposal of quarterly status reports, but some
Republican legislators insisted on this and other cuts in order to vote for
the pension obligation bond.

ATTACHED is an UPDATED scorecard of the Governor's proposed health cuts that
includes the reductions made last year, and in both March and April rounds
of mid-year cuts, as well as the current status of proposals.

Advocates for the uninsured are awaiting next week's May 14th announcement
of the May Revision of the budget. It is expected that since less tax
revenues came in than expected, there will be additional proposed reductions
in health and other vital services.


** ACCESS EXPANSIONS: The Senate Health Committee, chaired by Senator
Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), considered and passed two major bills to
dramatically expand health care. The debate and discussion was similar to
that in the Senate Insurance Committee last week, with dozens of
organizations coming out in support of both bills, and with opposition
coming from employer and business groups, and others.

* SB 921 (Kuehl) was presented first, with an academic on the bill's impact
on the quality of care, a doctor from the California Physicians Alliance, a
representative of the Greenlining Institute on the impact on communities of
color, and a consumer who talked about how being uninsured caused direct
pain and health complications. Testimony in support came from well over 50
grassroots organizations.

Given that conversations with the Franchise Tax Board are continuing on the
structure of the revenue package that would fund the health care system,
Sen. Kuehl amended the bill to withdraw the tax language from SB 921, with
the understanding that it would be included at a future time. The bill was
passed on a party line vote, with Democrats supporting and Republicans
opposing. Of those present, the exception was Sen. John Vasconcellos
(D-Santa Clara), who abstained. SB 921 is now expected to go to the Senate
Rules Committee for further direction.

* SB 2 (Burton/Speier) was presented by Senator Jackie Speier (D-San
Francisco), with testimony in support by the California Labor Federation,
the California Medical Association, as well as Kaiser Permanente and many
labor, medical industry, consumer and community groups. All Democrats
present voted for the bill; Republicans voted against it.

The discussion on both bills was of interest. Senator Vasconcellos asked
each of those organizations in opposition if they supported the broader goal
of universal health care. Senator Chesbro, in a similar vein, indicated his
support for multiple bills, stating that "I'm less concerned with the
details than" with getting to the goal of establishing that "health care is
a right." Senator Alarcon made similar points with emphasis, stating that
while some may use "bottom line arguments about losing jobs..., I think we
are losing lives every day."

--
Anthony E. Wright
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Anthony Wright | Permalink | 9:33 PM


 

Digging a bigger whole for reform...

 

Scoring at home...

 

We are hiring, to make a difference...

 

Field Poll: strong opposition to the health cuts.....

 

An Unhealthy Trend

 

Dressing up the Individual (Market)

 

A great debate on the great divide...

 

Jones to be chair of Health Committee...

 

Bass on the budget...

 

Pretty soon, the insureable will be a pretty exclu...