SACRAMENTO, CA–California health care advocates are launching a new campaign to highlight the negative effects of unchecked mergers in the health care system, and the need for a legislative solution. The campaign kicked-off with the unveiling of billboards across the state, and the launch of a new website www.protectcapatients.com. Attached visuals: Protect California Patients billboards […]
New Campaign Launched To Protect CA Patients From Harmful Health Mergers
2023 Health Access Policy Priorities
With daylight savings time upon us and most of the state experiencing near-record snowpack levels, there’s one other forecast we can expect like any other season, and that’s the beginning of a new state legislative session! Building off another successful year of historic health consumer wins, Health Access is advancing a robust 2023 health reform […]
AB 1208 (Schiavo) Covered California Cost-Sharing Help
CA AG Oversight of Nonprofit Hospital Mergers
SB 595 (Roth)
CA Health Care Affordability Board Selected
Governor Newsom announces final board appointees that will lead the implementation of the state’s newly created Office of Health Care Affordability to help control the cost of health care SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Newsom today announced his selections for the board that will lead implementation of the Office of Health Care Affordability, newly established within […]
Bills Introduced To Protect Patients From Harmful Health Mergers
ABs 1091 & 1092 (Wood) will continue the fight to lower health care costs and protect access to care by increasing oversight on health care mergers and anti-competitive practices. SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assembly Health Committee Chair Jim Wood introduced two bills, both supported by Health Access California, to enhance oversight over health care mergers […]
AB 948 (Berman) Keeping Prescription Drugs Affordable
Top Health Care Takeaways from Governor Newsom’s 2023-24 CA Budget Proposal
On Tuesday Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2023-24 state budget, continuing commitments to expand and improve Medi-Cal, including the plan to remove all barriers for income-eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status, in Medi-Cal beginning January 2024. As we continue to face an ongoing pandemic and increasing economic uncertainty, we applaud this step to include […]
Governor Newsom’s 2023-24 Ca Budget Proposal Keeps Key Medi-Cal Commitments, But Claws Back Money For Health Affordability Assistance
The proposed 2023-2024 state budget by Governor Gavin Newsom continues key commitments to improve and expand health care, including removing barriers in Medi-Cal for all income-eligible Californians regardless of immigration status by January 2024, as well as some new efforts on housing supports and reproductive health. As Californians face rising cost-of-living pressures, and higher health […]
2022 in Review
Our Logo has Changed. Our Mission Hasn’t.
You may notice we look a little different. Health Access has unveiled a new logo and website that better reflects our bold advocacy for California’s health care consumers. It’s still the Health Access you’ve grown to know over the last 35 years, but now with a new style. Our new logo adapts to the changing […]
This Election Vote to Protect Your Health
Together, we have made major progress this year to advance health reform, with Congress passing the Inflation Reduction Act that lowered health care premiums, and finally standing up to Big Pharma, giving Medicare the ability to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. This election will decide if we keep building on that momentum–or go backwards. […]
Major Health Care Consumer Wins this #CALeg and #CABudget Session
With the Governor’s final actions on bills last week, health consumer advocates applauded a major year in health reform, where California continued its leadership on health care access, affordability, and equity. Californians will see both short and long-term benefits from the bills and budget items adopted by Governor Newsom and the state legislature this year […]
Major Health Care Consumer Wins this CA Legislative Session
With the Governor’s final actions on bills last week, health consumer advocates applauded a major year in health reform, where California continued its leadership on health care access, affordability, and equity.
Governor Newsom Signs Key Bills to Keep Californians Covered
Governor Newsom has signed a series of bills that will help keep Californians get on and stay on health coverage, connecting them to their health plan options.
Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Raise Fines on Health Plans for Patient Protection Violations
Governor Newsom today signed SB 858 (Wiener) which will increase the level of fines for health plans who violate patient protections and modernizes outdated standards.
Deductibles to Spike for Majority of Covered California Enrollees in 2023
Hundreds of thousands of Californians with Covered California health plans will see their co-pays go up and deductibles rise by over one thousand dollars next year, as a result of Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of SB 944 by Senator Pan, and Covered California’s board action following the veto. SB 944 sought to lower cost-sharing in […]
Deductibles to Spike as Governor Vetoes Legislation to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs in Covered California
Hundreds of thousands of Californians with Covered California health plans will likely see their co-pays go up and deductibles rise by over one thousand dollars next year, as a result of Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto yesterday of SB 944 by Senator Pan. That bill sought to lower cost-sharing in Covered California, including eliminating deductibles in silver plans.
CA Legislature Passes Bills to Better Connect Californians to Health Coverage
The California Legislature has recently passed a number of bills that will help keep Californians covered and better connect them to their care options.