Today, the U.S. Department of Justice approved the merger of CVS Health and Aetna, continuing the trend of “diagonal” mergers, and the further consolidation of mega-health care corporations. CVS, a major pharmacy chain and one of the nations largest independent pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), and Aetna, one of the nations largest insurers, consolidates the health […] Read More
Proposition 5 is Bad For Our Health
October 4, 2018Proposition 5 on the November 2018 ballot is a grave threat to Californians health care. According to the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office, Prop 5 will result in an initial cut of hundreds of millions of dollars to California counties, and ultimately a billion dollars per year. Our counties are a major provider many vital services. […] Read More
Governor Brown Signs Key Health Bills from the Care4All CA Campaign
October 1, 2018As California Governor Jerry Brown wraps up the end of the bill-signing period at the Capitol, the Care4All California campaign announced and celebrated eight priority bills signed by Governor Brown that get California closer to the goal of a more affordable, accountable, and universal health care system. Under California’s implementation and improvement of the Affordable Care […] Read More
Cliff Allenby: A Health Care Leader We Could Rely On
September 26, 2018We note with sadness the passing of Cliff Allenby, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, former head of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (aka MrMIB), former head of departments without number. As a number of Governors, including the current (and former) Governor Brown note in the Sacramento Bee, he was a true public […] Read More
Governor Brown Signs Bills To Protect California’s Health System, While Trump Administration Launches New Attack on Immigrant Families
September 25, 2018Over the weekend, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation to protect Californians from the harm caused by Congressional and the Trump Administration’s actions to undermine our health care coverage and consumer protections. Many bills were a priority for the Care4All California campaign of over 50 organizations. Governor Brown was right to sign these bills to shield consumers […] Read More
Crosspost: Why I’m speaking out on the pending Catholic Hospital Mergers
September 13, 2018This week on the Health Access blog, we are cross-posting an important and personal story from our colleague Dannie Ceseña, Program Coordinator for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network (a project of Health Access). For over 30 years, Health Access has advocated for policies that protect patients when the health industry proposes to […] Read More
New Census Data Shows California’s Continued Reduction in Uninsured Rate, Need to Protect Progress
September 12, 2018New 2017 Census data released today has made it official that California has had the largest drop in the uninsured rate of all 50 states from 2013 to 2017, going from 6.5 million uninsured to 2.8 million, now down to 7.2%. The uninsured rate in both the United States and in California dropped dramatically with the implementation […] Read More
Governor Brown Signs Bill to Improve Oversight of Health Plan Mergers
September 11, 2018Last Friday, September 7th, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 595 by Assemblymember Jim Wood which institutes stronger state oversight over health plan mergers, in a big win for patients and the public interest. With concerns about rising premiums, fewer choices, and competition in health insurance, Governor Brown is right to protect consumers with stronger oversight of health […] Read More
California Legislature Passes Key Patient Protections Bills
August 31, 2018Facing final deadlines of the 2017-2018 California legislative session, the State Legislature this week has voted on final passage of nine important health care bills to improve the state’s health care system. These bills, championed by the Care4All California campaign, will help to create a more accessible, affordable, and accountable heath care system, while also […] Read More
Court Halts Big Pharma Efforts to Stop California’s Landmark Prescription Drug Price Transparency Law
August 30, 2018In a win for consumers, the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California today dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to halt California’s landmark drug price transparency law, SB 17, authored by Senator Ed Hernandez in 2017. Last year, PhRMA filed this lawsuit alleging the law as unconstitutional […] Read More