The May revision to the 2023-2024 state budget announced today by Governor Gavin Newsom continues key commitments to improve and expand health care, including removing barriers in Medi-Cal for all income-eligible Californians regardless of immigration status by January 2024, and improvements to CalAIM. A bigger “MCO tax” would provide more federal funds for new investments […]
AB 716 (Boerner) builds on California’s strong patient protections against surprise medical bills by extending them to also include ambulance bills Bill was heard in Assembly Emergency Management committee TODAY at 2:30pm, where it passed 6-0. ***Impacted consumer stories available upon request*** SACRAMENTO, CA – Building on nearly a decade of work to protect Californians […]
SACRAMENTO, CA – Below is a statement from Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, in response to President Biden’s announcement today to designate all DACA recipients as “lawfully present”, therefore giving them full access to health care coverage through Medicaid and ACA health insurance marketplaces like Covered California. California is home […]
Despite recent #Health4All Medi-Cal expansions, including the full removal of immigration-based exclusions in January 2024, over 520,000 undocumented Californians will remain ineligible for Medi-Cal and uninsured AB 4 (Arambula), up in Assembly Health Committee Today, seeks to remove immigration status as a barrier to buying a health plan through Covered California SACRAMENTO – To continue […]
SACRAMENTO, CA – Below is a statement from Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, in response to today’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor striking down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires no cost coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services, including: breast cancer screenings, colorectal and […]
Ten CA proposals unveiled today that will get California a more universal, affordable, and equitable health system SACRAMENTO, CA – On the eve of the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, dozens of health care advocates gathered with legislative champions at the State Capitol today to highlight key health bills in the 2023 legislative session. The ten […]
SACRAMENTO, CA – Below is a statement by Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition on Governor Newsom’s CalRx announcement today. Health Access served as the leading supporter of Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal and SB 852, Senator Richard Pan’s related legislation to directly contract to manufacture prescription drugs. […]
The full list of principles can be found here, ahead of first meeting of the Board on Tuesday SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, health consumer advocates are releasing their key goals and principles for the California Office of Health Care Affordability, a new state agency which will have its first board meeting on Tuesday, March 21st. […]
SACRAMENTO, CA–California health care advocates are launching a new campaign to highlight the negative effects of unchecked mergers in the health care system, and the need for a legislative solution. The campaign kicked-off with the unveiling of billboards across the state, and the launch of a new website www.protectcapatients.com. Attached visuals: Protect California Patients billboards […]
Governor Newsom announces final board appointees that will lead the implementation of the state’s newly created Office of Health Care Affordability to help control the cost of health care SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Newsom today announced his selections for the board that will lead implementation of the Office of Health Care Affordability, newly established within […]
ABs 1091 & 1092 (Wood) will continue the fight to lower health care costs and protect access to care by increasing oversight on health care mergers and anti-competitive practices. SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assembly Health Committee Chair Jim Wood introduced two bills, both supported by Health Access California, to enhance oversight over health care mergers […]
The proposed 2023-2024 state budget by Governor Gavin Newsom continues key commitments to improve and expand health care, including removing barriers in Medi-Cal for all income-eligible Californians regardless of immigration status by January 2024, as well as some new efforts on housing supports and reproductive health. As Californians face rising cost-of-living pressures, and higher health […]
With the Governor’s final actions on bills last week, health consumer advocates applauded a major year in health reform, where California continued its leadership on health care access, affordability, and equity.
Governor Newsom has signed a series of bills that will help keep Californians get on and stay on health coverage, connecting them to their health plan options.
Governor Newsom today signed SB 858 (Wiener) which will increase the level of fines for health plans who violate patient protections and modernizes outdated standards.
Hundreds of thousands of Californians with Covered California health plans will likely see their co-pays go up and deductibles rise by over one thousand dollars next year, as a result of Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto yesterday of SB 944 by Senator Pan. That bill sought to lower cost-sharing in Covered California, including eliminating deductibles in silver plans.
The California Legislature has recently passed a number of bills that will help keep Californians covered and better connect them to their care options.
Hundreds of thousands of Californians with Covered California health plans could see their deductibles eliminated and co-pays substantially reduced next year, thanks to current subsidies and pending actions.
Today the Legislature approved passage of SB 858 by Senator Scott Wiener which updates penalty amounts that the state can levy on health plans that don’t meet state consumer protection standards. It now goes to Governor Newsom for final signature.
Health, community, and immigrant rights advocates applaud the action taken today by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to prevent tens of thousands of Californians from being dropped from Medi-Cal coverage.