THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY AND THE THREAT TO HEALTH CARE Medicare. Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act. With the election results yesterday, these three pillars of our health system are at risk, unless we mobilize and organize. President-elect Trump and the GOP Congress’ plans to repeal Obamacare have never had the gruesome consequences fully spelled out, especially under […]
L.A. Times Highlights California’s Work to Make the Affordable Care Act Work
The Los Angeles Times recently profiled the work that California has to expand the reach and function of the Affordable Care Act in the state. Health Access has been a key proponent of the law and the work to implement and improve it, ensuring that the law works for consumers by keeping costs down, encouraging competitive markets, […]
#CoveredCA Announces 2017 Health Plans and Rates
Despite Increases Averaging Below Pre-ACA Annual Double-Digit Rate Hikes, More Reforms Needed to Bring Down Cost of Care and Coverage.
Opposition to Proposed Change to the Attorney General’s Conditions re: the Change in Governance of Saint Agnes Medical Center
Key Bill Pass Health Committees, Capping a Productive Half-Year of Progress
Earlier this week, the Assembly and Senate Health Committees passed a series of key patient protection bills to increase transparency and protect consumers from unfair health care costs. Sponsored by Health Access California, these measures would prevent patients from facing surprise out-of-network medical bills and mid-year cost-sharing increases, and provide notice of unjustified premium rate […]
Assembly Health Committee Passes Key Bills on Rx Costs, Unjustified Premiums
Today, the California Assembly Health Committee passed three key patient protection measures to protect patients from unfair health care costs, most notably the heavily lobbied SB1010 (Hernandez) to provide notice and disclosure on prescription drug costs. After a very long hearing, the bill passed with 12 votes, with all Democrats in support. The committee also […]
Key Patient Rights Legislation Up Next Week
Yesterday, the Assembly Health Committee passed one consumer protection measure, SB 923 (Hernandez) on a vote of 17-0, to prevent mid-year increases in co-payments and other cost-sharing by a health plan. Other key legislation also authored by Senate Health Committee Chair Dr. Ed Hernandez and sponsored by Health Access California to protect patients from unfair […]
SB10 Signed! A Step Closer to #Health4All!
Last week, Governor Brown signed a bipartisan bill to remove a critical barrier to Covered California and allow all Californians to access the state health insurance marketplace, regardless of immigration status. SB 10 (Lara) authorizes the state to apply for a federal waiver that would allow undocumented immigrants to buy unsubsidized health coverage through Covered California. […]
#CABudget Conference Committee Conferees Announced
Assembly Speaker Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León have announced their appointments to the 10-member Budget Conference Committee, which reconciles differences between the budgets passed by the two houses. Assemblymember Ting will serve as chair of the Conference Committee this year, and he will be joined by Assemblymembers Richard Bloom, Lorena Gonzalez, […]
Budget Focus at Covered California Board Meeting
This post was written by Kate Burch The Covered California board meeting on May 12 addressed several controversial issues. You can find a recording of the board meeting, links to the presentations, reports, proposed regulations, attachments, and other materials here. Market Analysis Covered California contracted with PwC for an in-depth analysis of the direction of the […]