This week, California started the process of opening up COVID-19 vaccinations to those age 65 and over. This is in addition to health care professionals and nursing home residents who have already been receiving shots. We know you may have a lot of questions about when you or your loved one can access this life-saving vaccine. Health Access […]
New #CABudget Provides Urgent Short-Term COVID-19 Help, But Long-Term Investments Still Needed for State’s Recovery
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the January proposal for the 2021-22 State Budget. The budget provides needed short-term investments to help Californians in crisis, but more ongoing and long-term support will be necessary to move California down the road towards health and economic recovery. We still urge the CA state legislature to look at […]
Twenty Takeaways from 2020
Protecting Our Progress and Confronting the Challenges of COVID-19 Like most Californians, we had high hopes for progress in 2020. The year began in earnest with the implementation of expanded access and affordability to coverage for hundreds of thousands of Californians, and ambitious plans to increase health industry oversight to control costs, improve quality and […]
Californians to Benefit from COVID-19 Relief and Solution to Surprise Medical Bills
Health advocates expressed support for the package of COVID-19 financial relief set for a vote in Congress today, with the vow to continue to advocate for key elements that are not included in the current package, such as state and local aid to maintain health and other vital services. In particular, health advocates are pleased with the inclusion of consumer protections to stop surprise medical bills, a long-sought solution to ensure patients don’t get unexpected out-of-network bills from health providers, which can often be in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Californias Still Awaiting Deal on Desperately Needed COVID-19 Aid; Health Advocates Also Urge Solution to Surprise Medical Bills
As the Christmas break looms, health and consumer advocates expressed frustration that Congress has yet to pass or come to final agreement on needed COVID-19 financial and health relief. Reports indicate that key elements will not be included in the relief package, such as state and local aid to maintain key health and other vital services. Health advocates also urged that the final package include the announced compromise to stop surprise medical bills, a long sought solution to ensure patients don’t get unexpected out-of-network bills from health providers, which can often be in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
As COVID-19 Crisis Continues, #Health4All Bills Introduced; Goal is to Cover All Vulnerable Californias Regardless of Immigration Status
As the first session of the 2021-2022 legislative year convened today, California legislators Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and state Senator Maria Elena Durazo introduced legislation to expand Medi-Cal to cover those who are income-eligible but currently excluded due to their immigration status. his is the latest step for the #Health4All campaign of health and immigrant rights advocates that have in recent years successfully covered children and young adults up to age 26. AB 4 (Arambula) would remove the exclusion altogether and SB 56 (Durazo) prioritizes an expansion to seniors, 65 and over, who are most at risk in the current COVID-19 crisis.
Health Advocates Agree – New COVID-19 Guidelines Necessary to #StopTheSurge & Protect Californians’ Health & Access to Health Care
Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, urged Californians to comply with the efforts to minimize mixing and movement, to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from the COVID-19 virus, and maintain capacity and access to our health system.
CA Hearing Today on Health Care Costs Highlights Need For Additional Action
Today, the California Assembly Health Committee will hold a hearing that will feature numerous experts on the high-profile issue of health care costs, including those drivers that lead to higher health prices, and potential options for controlling cost increases. Among the topics will be the setting up of a new Health Payments Database, authorized in legislation this year, to better track health cost and prices throughout California’s health system.
Governor Newsom Signs Key Bill to Address Health Care Costs and Transparency Amid Pandemic
Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a key bill to lower costs and improve transparency in the health care system for California consumers. AB 2118 (Kalra), sponsored by Health Access California institutes rate reporting in individual & small-group markets, similar to what is already required in the large group health insurance market. This new rate reporting will add to the rate review that state regulators already undertake.
Covered California High Enrollment Shows Need For the ACA, Even as it is Endangered By Court Case and Supreme Court Pick
Today, Covered California released a new report showed a new record high in enrollment, including nearly 300,000 new enrollments coming in since the COVID-19 emergency, twice as many as the same period in 2019. This demand shows that Californians need coverage and the Affordable Care Act now more than ever, even as it is newly threatened by a pending court care set to be heard by the Supreme Court the week after the election, with a potentially new appointment likely to be hostile to the ACA and its coverage expansions and patient protections.