Amanda McAllister-Wallner officially takes the helm as Health Access California’s sixth Executive Director, and first new leader in 23 years In McAllister-Wallner’s nearly nine years at Health Access, she has served in key leadership roles including Interim Executive Director since last year, Deputy Director from 2021-2024, and Director of the CA LGBTQ+ HHS Network from […]
AB 1415 (Bonta) Reining in Health Care Costs
Background Health care costs for consumers are rising faster than inflation, taking up bigger and bigger chunks of consumers’ incomes. Californians are facing a health care affordability crisis, and that’s why the Legislature and Governor created the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) in 2022. The Legislature and Governor established OHCA with the triple aim […]
Budget Proposal: Reinstate Covered California State Premium Subsidy Program to Reduce the Impact of Potential Federal Cuts
Summary Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2021, enhanced federal premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, like Covered California, have significantly lowered costs for enrollees. This additional federal premium help will expire at the end of 2025 unless the Trump administration and Congress choose to extend them or make them […]
2025–26 State Health Policy Priorities
Learn more about the critical bills we’re working on this year in California to improve our health system California has made incredible progress in expanding health care access and we’re proud that we have a more robust health care system than ever before. While we fight to protect this progress at the federal level, we […]
Health and Immigrant Rights Advocates Respond to Medi-Cal Budget Shortfall
The State’s Finance Department sent a letter to Legislature yesterday alerting them of an additional $3.4 billion appropriation for Medi-Cal for this fiscal year Sacramento, CA – For more than a decade, the Health4All coalition, led by Health Access California and the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), has been working closely with the state Legislature […]
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) would address this exclusion by taking the first step toward allowing undocumented Californians to buy health plans through Covered California. Specifically, AB […]
House Republicans Move Forward Plan to Cut Health Care for Millions of Californians
All nine California House Republicans voted yes on the resolution that seeks to cut $880 billion from Medicaid, impacting millions of their constituents SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, released the following statement following tonight’s vote by Congress to move forward a budget resolution that seeks to cut […]
Know Your Rights–Health Care Edition
No one should have to choose between their health and their safety. But with recent reports of ICE raids, many in our communities are afraid to seek the care they need. Let’s be clear: you still have the right to access health care—and knowing your rights is the first step in protecting yourself and your […]
Over 200 CA Organizations Ask Congress to Protect Health Care Coverage
RE: Protect & Strengthen Health Care Coverage and Access in the 119th Congress Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer: We, the undersigned organizations, comprise a diverse coalition of community-based, faith-based, labor, county, and health care organizations across California. Medicaid, Medi-Cal in California, is a lifeline for coverage and […]
LGBTQ and Health Advocates Condemn Federal Executive Order to Restrict Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth
If enacted, President Trump’s extreme Executive Order could directly harm the health of tens of thousands of trans youth under the age of 19 in California SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Access and the CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network released the following statements following the January 28, 2025 Executive Order issued by President Trump […]