Care4All California, a campaign of more than 70 consumer, community, labor, progressive and health care organizations, unveiled a plan made up of a package of bills and budget items that together will move California closer than ever to universal coverage by eliminating many remaining coverage gaps, improving quality and equity, and reducing prices for health […] Read More
New Bill to Lower Drug Prices Targets Practice of “Pay-for-Delay”
February 20, 2019Consumer advocates cheered the introduction of a bill to address the outrageous pharmaceutical company practice of “pay for delay,” where drug manufacturers offer patent settlements to pay generic companies to delay the introduction of lower-price medication to the market. According to an FTC study, “these anti-competitive deals cost consumers and taxpayers $3.5 billion in higher drug costs […] Read More
More Californians To Stay Covered Under New Bill Introduced Today by Senator Hurtado
February 13, 2019Yesterday, State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D – Fresno) made health care coverage for Californians one of her top priorities by introducing SB 260. The new bill ensures more people can stay covered when their life circumstances change. When Californians undergo changes in their lives – like a marriage or divorce, moving to a new home […] Read More
In First State of the State, Governor Newsom Outlines Big Ideas on Health Care Affordability
February 12, 2019In his first State of the State address, Governor Newsom outlined big ideas on health care. Governor Newsom is right to focus on the affordability crisis in California, given the costs of health care, housing and other expenses in our state. From premiums to prescription drug prices, the Governor pinpointed the problem that Californians are struggling […] Read More
New Covered California Report Outlines Options for Affordability Assistance for Health Insurance
February 1, 2019Following the release of 2019 enrollment numbers earlier this week that show steady overall enrollment but a 23% drop in new sign-ups, Covered California today put out a new report detailing various options for increasing affordability assistance for low- and moderate-income Californians who buy health insurance as individuals. The report, commissioned by the Legislature in last year’s […] Read More
New Covered CA Sign-Up Numbers Signal Need for More Affordability Assistance and Individual Mandate
January 30, 2019Today, Covered California released its 2019 enrollment numbers, showing sharp declines in new sign-ups, but overall enrollees holding steady. The new report shows Covered California’s resiliency despite federal sabotage, with 1.2 million renewals and nearly 300,000 new enrollees, a total of 1.5 million enrollees. However, new sign-ups were down significantly – 23.7% – due to the elimination […] Read More
RECAP: California Leads on Getting to Universal Health Care
January 14, 2019Last week was a big week for health care in California, so here is a rundown of what happened and what it means! On Monday, Gavin Newsom was sworn in as the 40th Governor of California, and quickly announced his first actions on health care. Then on Thursday, Governor Newsom unveiled a state budget that put those actions into […] Read More
Governor Newsom’s First Budget Includes First-In-Nation Steps to Expand Medi-Cal, Lower Premiums for Californians
January 10, 2019Today Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his first budget, which includes first-in-the-nation investments for major expansions for California’s health care. The 2019-2020 budget proposes to expand Medi-Cal and to help middle-income Californians better afford premiums in Covered California and the individual insurance market. This budget takes first-of-the-nation steps to help Californians access health care and coverage, […] Read More
On Day One, Governor Newsom Takes Key Steps Towards Health Care To All Californians
January 7, 2019Health Consumer Groups Applaud Both Long-Term Vision for Health Care for all Californians, and the Governor’s Specific Steps to Help Californians Access & Afford Coverage This Year On his first day in office, Governor Newsom announces support for major expansions of health coverage and other key health reforms, including first-in-the-nation expansions: increasing affordability assistance post-ACA […] Read More
Report: CA Health Plans Still Struggle to Meet Timely Access Standards
December 19, 2018CARE DELAYED IS CARE DENIED A new report by California’s Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) released today is the first of its kind to provide data on timely access to care separating out commercial, individual/family, and Medi-Cal health plans. Health Access sponsored 2014’s SB 964 (Hernandez) that requires this annual report. The report found industry-wide difficulty providing timely […] Read More