As Californians face an affordability crisis on many fronts, a new, bold effort has been proposed to address the rising cost of care that is taking a bigger and bigger bit out of workers’ wages and family finances. In January California Governor Gavin Newsom released a proposed 2020-2021 state budget which included a far-reaching proposal to create a new Office of Health Care Affordability.
This new Office will be charged with increasing price and quality transparency, developing specific strategies and cost targets for the different sectors of the health care industry, and financial consequences for entities that fail to meet these targets. The ultimate goal of the is to have these savings be returned to consumers who are directly impacted by increasing health care costs. This new Office would put in place a comprehensive strategy to contain health care costs, setting targets for affordability with accountability, and drive innovation in payment and delivery of care.
Given the size and scale of the issue, as well as the solutions the Office could provide, the proposal has garnered the support of a broad range of organizations, including consumer, labor, business, health providers, and health care plans committed to working together to meet the goals of the Office.
LEARN MORE
Office of Health Care Affordability Coalition FACT SHEET: It’s Time for California to Stop Unchecked Growth in Health Care Costs
Health Access FACT SHEET: The Office of Health Care Affordability – A Comprehensive Strategy to Address High Health Care Prices to Help Californians Who Pay More, Get Less Care, and Have Worse Outcomes