Health Reform Moves Ahead… More to Discuss on Dec 4th…

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE:
Friday, November 16, 2012
 
HEALTH REFORM MOVES FULL SPEED AHEAD, AS EXCHANGE SUBMITS BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE AND BEYOND

MORE TO DISCUSS AT OUR DEC 4th SYMPOSIUM ON FULFILLING PROMISE OF HEALTH REFORM & CELEBRATING HEALTH ACCESS’ 25th ANNIVERSARY

RSVP and get tickets today. Governor Jerry Brown Invited to Speak on Health Reform. Confirmed speakers for the December 4 Sacramento symposium include:

  • HHS Secretary Diana Dooley
  • Senator Ed Hernandez, Chair of the Senate Health Committee
  • Assemblyman Richard Pan, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee
  • Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell, Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health
  • and others!

Deadline nears to sponsor an ad in the program for this Health Access 25th Anniversary Event
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Earlier this week, Covered California, our state’s newly-named exchange that will be the new marketplace that connects Californians with coverage, submitted to the federal government its blueprint for operations in 2013 and 2014, and a plan for self-sustainability afterwards. (A full report on the Exchange’s board meeting earlier this week is posted on the Health Access blog.)

That’s just one of many signs that California is moving full steam ahead with implementation of the Affordable Care Act, after an election than re-elected the President and virtually all Congressional supporters of “Obamacare,” and in California passed Proposition 30 that firmed up the financial foundation of state services on which these new reforms will be built.

Next month, on December 3rd, a new Legislature will be sworn in, and soon afterwards a special legislative session will be called to work on health reform implementation, including new rules for insurances (including banning denials for pre-existing conditions), and the expansion of Medi-Cal.

To spotlight the legislative, administrative, and organizing work needed, Health Access is sponsoring a post-election symposium on Tuesday, December 4th, at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento.. While looking to the future, it will also be a time to revist the past, as Health Access celebrates 25 years of advocacy.

This two-part “Fulfilling the Promise” event will include a program and discussion from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., to lay out next steps for California health advocates, timed right after a consequential election.

California Governor Jerry Brown is invited. Confirmed speakers include:
  • California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana S. Dooley
  • The Honorable Dr. Ed Hernandez, chair of the Senate Health Commitee
  • The Honorable Dr. Richard Pan, chair of the Assembly Health Committee
  • The Honorable Holly Mitchell, chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
  • Dr. Diana Bonta, President & CEO, The California Wellness Foundation
  • Daniel Zingale, Senior Vice President, The California Endowment
  • Ellen Wu, Executive Director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
  • Betsy Imholz, Special Projects Director, Consumers Union
  • and others.
Following the program at 5:00 p.m. will be a reception celebrating the progress we have made over the past twenty-five years, with a short program to recognize key California leaders, including the recently passed. Dr. E. Richard Brown.

Individuals can RSVP and buy tickets at http://ha25anniversary.eventbrite.com/
As a coalition organization, Health Access appreciates the support and partnership of its allied organizations and individual members, and seeks sponsorships and support to make the event, and the work ahead, a success.

The deadline for placing an ad in the program book has been extended to this Monday, November 19th. Sponsoring organizations will be recognized in the written program book, and will receive tickets as described on the sponsorship reply form. You may designate any tickets you are unable to use as scholarship tickets to encourage attendance by Health Access coalition partners and volunteers.

We hope to see you there to celebrate our past and our future.
Health Access California promotes quality, affordable health care for all Californians.