Year: 2018

Announcement, Appreciation

Cliff Allenby: A Health Care Leader We Could Rely On

We note with sadness the passing of Cliff Allenby, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, former head of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (aka MrMIB), former head of departments without number. As a number of Governors, including the current (and former) Governor Brown note in the Sacramento Bee, he was a true public […]

Gov. Brown, Legislation, Trump, Uncategorized

Governor Brown Signs Bills To Protect California’s Health System, While Trump Administration Launches New Attack on Immigrant Families

Over the weekend, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation to protect Californians from the harm caused by Congressional and the Trump Administration’s actions to undermine our health care coverage and consumer protections. Many bills were a priority for the Care4All California campaign of over 50 organizations. Governor Brown was right to sign these bills to shield consumers […]

Hospitals, LGBT, Mergers

Crosspost: Why I’m speaking out on the pending Catholic Hospital Mergers

This week on the Health Access blog, we are cross-posting an important and personal story from our colleague Dannie Ceseña, Program Coordinator for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network (a project of Health Access). For over 30 years, Health Access has advocated for policies that protect patients when the health industry proposes to […]

Mergers

Governor Brown Signs Bill to Improve Oversight of Health Plan Mergers

Last Friday, September 7th, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 595 by Assemblymember Jim Wood which institutes stronger state oversight over health plan mergers, in a big win for patients and the public interest. With concerns about rising premiums, fewer choices, and competition in health insurance, Governor Brown is right to protect consumers with stronger oversight of health […]

Consumer Protection, Legislation

California Legislature Passes Key Patient Protections Bills

Facing final deadlines of the 2017-2018 California legislative session, the State Legislature this week has voted on final passage of nine important health care bills to improve the state’s health care system. These bills, championed by the Care4All California campaign, will help to create a more accessible, affordable, and accountable heath care system, while also […]

Prescription Drugs

Court Halts Big Pharma Efforts to Stop California’s Landmark Prescription Drug Price Transparency Law

In a win for consumers, the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California today dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to halt California’s landmark drug price transparency law, SB 17, authored by Senator Ed Hernandez in 2017. Last year, PhRMA filed this lawsuit alleging the law as unconstitutional […]

Care4AllCA, Mergers

Care4All California Agenda Advances in the Final Days of 2018 Legislative Session

Yesterday, Monday August 27th, the California Legislature passed a number of important health care bills part of the Care4All California campaign that seeks to move California towards a more accessible, equitable, and universal health care system. AB 595 by Assemblymember Wood, instituting stronger state oversight over health plan mergers, was passed on a preliminary 42-17 vote. In California, the top […]