Author: Kit Bear

Access, Budget, Care4AllCA, Equity, Expanding Coverage, Legislation

Legislators and Advocates Unveil 2024 Care4all California Bills for Health Reform

Thirteen CA proposals announced today to get California to a more universal, accessible, and equitable health system, as soon as possible SACRAMENTO, CA – Today health care advocates gathered with legislative champions at the State Capitol to highlight important health reform bills in the 2024 legislative session. The thirteen bills and budget items featured as […]

Access, Network Adequacy

CA State Assembly Passes Patient Protection to Ensure Accurate Plan Provider Directories

AB 236 (Holden), which seeks to improve the accuracy of health plan provider directories for consumers, now heads to the California Senate. ***Impacted consumer stories available upon request***   SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the California State Assembly passed AB 236 by Assemblymember Chris Holden, which will ensure accurate health plan provider directories, and help consumers […]

Affordability, Consumer Protection, Cost Containment, Mergers, OHCA

New Office of Health Care Affordability Proposal Would Limit Health Cost Growth, Offering Real Relief to Californians

Health and consumer advocates praise new staff recommendations of the Office of Health Care Affordability to set a statewide health growth target at 3% OHCA’s Health Care Affordability Board to make final decision in coming months SACRAMENTO, CA – California’s ambitious effort to rein in the skyrocketing cost of care enters a new phase this […]

Access, Covered California, Health4All

AB 4 (Arambula) Accessing Coverage in Covered California

Undocumented Californians are explicitly and unjustly excluded from accessing and purchasing health care coverage plans through Covered California, the state’s marketplace established under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Assembly Bill 4 (Arambula), the #Health4All Covered California campaign, would address this exclusion by taking the first step toward allowing undocumented Californians to buy health plans […]

Budget, Gov. Newsom, Health4All

Governor Newsom’s 2024-25 Budget Continues California’s Key Commitments in Health Care

Despite a deficit, the 2024-2025 state budget proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom continues key commitments in health care, particularly in Medi-Cal with improvements in rates and access, benefits, quality and equity, and eligibility, and keeping Medi-Cal available for all income-eligible Californians regardless of age or immigration status. As Californians face rising cost-of-living pressures, and higher […]

Access, Insurers, Legislation, Network Adequacy

AB 236 (Holden) Ensuring Accurate Health Plan Provider Directories

Share Your Story Download Factsheet Download Consumer Stories Sheet   BREAKING: #AB236 (@chrisholdennews) passed out of the #CAStateAssembly with 46 votes, and now it’s headed to the #CAStateSenate! 🎉 https://t.co/WL7lUMLkIc — Health Access CA (@healthaccess) January 30, 2024 Background  Every health plan in California is required to maintain an updated list of in-network health care […]

Access, Affordability, Appreciation, Consumer Protection, Health Reform, Recognition

2023 in Review

In 2023, Health Access advocated to provide real relief and remove financial barriers to California health consumers—successfully helping increase access to and/or reduce the cost of coverage, care, prescription drugs, and even ground ambulance services. We supported major investments in Medi-Cal to improve access and continue the commitment to expand coverage to all those who […]

Affordability, Budget, Care4AllCA, Cost Containment, Covered California

Premiums Remain Low and New Reductions in Deductibles and Co-pays

Today marks the start of the 11th open enrollment period of Covered California and the most affordable year ever for enrollees, with new, significant state and federal financial assistance available. The Inflation Reduction Act continues major premium assistance for the nearly 2 million Californians in Covered California through 2025. Funding included in this year’s state […]

Consumer Protection, Cost Containment, Gov. Newsom, Legislation, Prescription Drugs

Bill Signed by Governor Newsom to Permanently Cap Prescription Drug Costs

AB 948 (Berman) keeps expensive prescription drugs more affordable for Californians with chronic illnesses SACRAMENTO, CA – Over the weekend, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 948 by Assemblymember Berman to make permanent the existing $250 co-pay cap for prescription drugs, ensuring consumers can count on their monthly prescription drug costs staying consistent, even […]

Gov. Newsom, Legislation, Surprise Bills

CA Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Bill to End Surprise Ambulance Billing for Californians

One of the most impactful health consumer bills this year, AB 716 (Boerner) will prevent Californians from getting $1,000 plus surprise ambulance bills, and take consumers out of the middle of ambulance billing disputes ***Impacted consumer stories available upon request*** SACRAMENTO, CA – Today California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 716 by Assemblymember Tasha […]