After multiple reschedules, President Donald Trump gave a speech last week on prescription drug prices, unveiling a plan to address the issue that was underwhelming–several noted that the plan had few specific actions, and in fact literally had 136 question marks. While President Trump prioritized lowering prescription drug prices during his campaign, while in office […]
As Trump Administration Seeks To Promote “Junk” Insurance, California Legislation Would Ban Such Substandard Coverage
On February 20, 2018 the Trump Administration’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed rule to extend the use of so-called “short-term” health insurance plans from three months to a year, and otherwise promote the use of these substandard “junk” policies that would not follow Affordable Care Act consumer protections. Such “short-term” plans […]
Proposed Trump Budget Would Cut Health Care Well Beyond ACA Repeal
On February 12, 2018 President Trump released his proposed federal budget for the next fiscal year, which would dramatically cut our nation’s health care system, and especially in California. The budget goes beyond ACA repeal in cutting and capping Medicaid, endorsing last year’s Graham-Cassidy proposal where California was disproportionally and intentionally singled out for harsher […]
State of Resistance: California Working Overtime to Withstand Multiple Trump Attacks on our Health System
California policymakers, regulators, and advocates are being forced to take extraordinary steps to protect patients and our health system from sabotage by the Trump Administration. The latest and most shocking administrative attack was last night’s announcement that the White House is withholding funding for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), payments which have already been budgeted and contracted […]
Trump Executive Order Undermines Insurance Markets, But California Can Take Steps to Protect Coverage & Affordability
Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order that threatens to undermine insurance markets around the country. It directs federal agencies to craft rules allowing broader use of Association Health Plans and short-term health insurance, creating large loopholes in the Affordable Care Act’s requirements around minimum benefits and protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Consumer and health […]
Governor Brown Signs Two Bills to Protect California’s Individual Market from Trump Sabotage
Governor Jerry Brown has signed two important health consumer protection bills, SB 133 (Hernandez) and AB 156 (Wood), aimed at protecting the 2 million Californians who purchase health care on the individual market from the Trump Administration’s attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act, inject uncertainty into the marketplace, disrupt people’s health care and make […]
14 CA Reps Still Silent As Revised Cassidy-Graham Still Threatens CA’s Care
The US Senate Finance Committee will hold a single hearing today on a radical proposal by Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy.to dramatically cut our nation’s health care system, a proposal that with only one hearing, only 90 seconds of Senate floor debate scheduled, and no Congressional Budget Office analysis of the coverage or […]
Final Votes Tonight on Two Bills to Hold CA Health Consumers Harmless from Trump Sabotage
As of this writing, two important health consumer protection bills helping to blunt federal attacks on the individual market face final votes on the final day of the 2017 California Legislative session. The bills seek to protect California consumers from the actions of the Trump Administration seeking to undermine the success of the Affordable Care […]
CA’s Will & Wherewithal to Withstand Another Trump Attempts to Sabotage the ACA
Today, President Trump’s HHS Department announced that it will dramatically cut Affordable Care Act outreach and marketing efforts by 90% for 2018. The federal government plans to reduce advertising spending from $100 million to just $10 million, and reduce funding for navigator and enrollment assisters from $63 million to $36 million. President Trump is […]
Covered California Market Remains Stable Despite Ongoing Attacks by Trump and Congress
Yesterday, Covered California, which enrolls 1.4 million Californians, announced that all 11 health plans will continue to participate in 2018 and unveiled the rates for next year. Overall, California’s marketplace remains stable despite constant federal attacks on the health system.