The Governor and Legislature announced a final deal on the California state budget late yesterday, including some major investments in a variety of health and human services. We greatly appreciate that this state budget deal includes crucial commitments to improve health care access and affordability for Californians, providing real relief to many immediately, with the […]
Responding to the Supreme Court Overturning Roe V. Wade, at the State and Federal Level
We share the anger of majority of Americans about the Supreme Court of overturning a 50-year precedent and the constitutional right to access critical health care services. Abortion is health care. We know we stand with our allies and millions to ensure safe access to needed care, including reproductive health services, at the state *and* […]
These Key CA Health Care Bills Passed the Floor This Week
The California State Senate and Assembly held their floor sessions this week, with the opportunity to vote on major health care legislation to increase accountability in our health care system and improve health access for consumers. AB 2080 by Assemblymember Wood strengthens oversight on for-profit hospital and health industry mergers to ensure they are in the […]
California Governor Gavin Newsom Released May Revise Which Takes Steps on Health Affordability–But Legislature Should Do More
Governor Gavin Newsom released his May Revision of a $300 billion state budget, which continues to propose major steps to expand health care coverage, and included some new investment to ensure Californians keep the coverage as the public health emergency unwinds. Building on these proposals and given the urgent needs, health and community advocates urged […]
#Health4All: Empezando el 1 de mayo de 2022, adultos indocumentados y mayores de 50 años ahora pueden inscribirse para Medi-Cal!
¿Sabían que empezando el 1 de mayo de 2022, más californianos serán elegibles para Medi-Cal completo? Independiente de su estado migratorio, todos los californianos que califican con sus ingresos pueden inscribirse para Medi-Cal completo sin costo alguno. Todavía hay mucho trabajo que hacer para lograr Health4All, pero este es un gran paso hacia la cobertura […]
#Health4All: Medi-Cal’s Older Adult Enrollment Starts May 1, 2022!
En Español Did you know starting May 1, 2022 more Californians qualify for Medi-Cal? Now, all income-eligible Californians ages 50 and over, regardless of immigration status will be able to enroll in comprehensive coverage through Medi-Cal! There is still a lot of work left to do to achieve Health4All, but this is a major step […]
Twelve Years of the ACA in California
A Look Back at the Dozen Years of Implementing & Improving the Affordable Care Act, and More in CA The last decade+ in California was built on two major events, which shaped the years ahead: The re-emergence of a major budget crisis in California in 2009. That year, major budget cuts triggered 10% provider rate […]
CA Health Committee Chairs Intro Bills to Increase Affordability in CoveredCA
New state legislation introduced this week would fill key affordability gaps in Covered California, potentially lowering cost-sharing and eliminating deductibles for over a million Californians getting coverage through the state marketplace. AB 1878 by Assemblymember Dr. Jim Wood, and SB 944 by Senator Dr. Richard Pan, both sponsored by Health Access California would remove financial barriers […]
2021 Year In Review: Major CA Health Reforms to Last Even Beyond the Pandemic
Despite the ongoing challenges through the pandemic, this was a major year of health reform in California. Health Access was proud to champion and collaborate on a number of historic investments in the state budget and reforms through legislation in 2021—victories that provided new coverage to hundreds of thousands, and new financial assistance to many […]
Health Access 2021 Scorecard Reveals Health Consumer Champions
Health Access’s new 2021 Legislative Scorecard highlights key bills supported by health care consumer advocates in the 2021 legislative session. Several of the bills listed sought to respond to the problems of the pandemic, which highlighted the gaps and inequities in our health care system, from lack of access to care, to the resulting economic […]