As health advocates continue to hear stories of consumers who can’t find care in their network, AB 280 (Aguiar-Curry) would finally hold health plans accountable to keep their provider directories up to date SACRAMENTO, CA – As the problem of inaccurate health plan provider directories persists in California, Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry took on the cause […]
Legislation Introduced to Ensure Accurate Health Plan Provider Directories
AB 280 (Aguiar-Curry) Ensuring Accurate Health Plan Provider Directories
Background Every health plan in California is required to maintain an updated list of in-network health care providers for their enrollees. These directories list providers such as doctors, mental health professionals, hospitals, labs, imaging centers, and more that are in the health plan’s network. When consumers go to search for a new doctor or mental […]
Health Advocates Release New Factsheets on What’s at Risk for Medi-Cal & Covered California
Under current Congressional Republican proposals, major cuts could be looming for Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and ACA exchanges like Covered California. New factsheets detail statewide impacts of cuts to Medi-Cal and Covered California, and chart the number of people in each of California’s 53 congressional districts that could be affected by these cuts. CA health […]
Health Care Access & Affordability Protected in 2025-2026 CA State Budget Proposal
The 2025-2026 state budget released Friday by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office maintains key commitments in health care, including keeping Medi-Cal available for all income-eligible Californians regardless of age or immigration status, and continuing efforts to address the rising cost of care and prescription drugs. However, federal health care cuts loom large for millions of Californians […]
2024 Year in Review
2024 was a year in flux for both health reform and Health Access. Significant progress was made on lowering health care costs and making care more affordable for millions of Californians. At the same time, we also weathered the departure of our 22-year Executive Director and a national election with major health care implications. Our […]
2024 Health Care Consumer Champions Revealed in Health Access Legislative Scorecard
Health Access 2024 Legislative Scorecard analyzes how California legislators voted on bills that improve consumer protections and remove financial barriers to accessing health care for millions of California health consumers. With the addition of some contentious health care bills scored this year, less than half (45%) of State Senators and Assemblymembers scored 100%, earning the […]
2024 Legislative Scorecard
Jump to Data Background For over 35 years, Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, has served as the leading voice on behalf of patients and the public on critical health policy issues at the State Capitol. We also advocate for health care consumers in federal policy discussions and analyze impacts. As […]
New Factsheet on California’s Resistance to Trump’s Sabotage of Our Health Care System
Health Access California releases list of actions California has taken to protect consumer’s and our state’s individual market from harmful federal actions But even with this robust framework, much remains at risk if federal funding is cut or otherwise withheld SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, today released […]
California’s Resistance to Trump’s Sabotage of our Health Care
In the last decade, Californians rallied together to oppose all efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and cut and cap Medicaid. In 2017, when the Congressional repeal efforts stalled, then-President Trump repeatedly said he wanted to let the ACA “explode.” Threats to many of the key components of the ACA continued […]
Health Care Advocates Vow a Renewed Fight for Health Care in CA
SACRAMENTO, CA – Amanda McAllister-Wallner, interim executive director of Health Access California, the statewide health care advocacy coalition, issued this statement following the election of Donald Trump as President: “Make no mistake – our health care is in the crosshairs once again. The difference now is that the Affordable Care and the Inflation Reduction Act […]
Federal Action: What’s at Stake for Californians by Region
From the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), federal action has fundamentally changed our health care system, expanding coverage and lowering costs for millions of Californians. But each region of our large state is impacted differently. Health Access has new reports that focus in on the health care impacts of these […]
Federal Action: What’s at Stake for Health in the Central Valley
Congressional actions over the last several years have helped lower health care prices for consumers in the Central Valley(i) and across the state. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) extended and expanded financial help for health care premiums for those enrolled in Covered California. This assistance was originally passed in the American Rescue Plan, the federal […]
Federal Action: What’s at Stake for Health in Riverside County
Congressional actions over the last several years have helped lower health care prices for consumers in Riverside County and across the state. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) extended and expanded financial help for health care premiums for those enrolled in Covered California. This assistance was originally passed in the American Rescue Plan, the federal response […]
Federal Action: What’s at Stake for Health in Orange County
Congressional actions over the last several years have helped lower health care prices for consumers in Orange County and across the state. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) extended and expanded financial help for health care premiums for those enrolled in Covered California. This assistance was originally passed in the American Rescue Plan, the federal response […]
Federal Action: What’s at Stake for Health in Los Angeles County
Congressional actions over the last several years have helped lower health care prices for consumers in Los Angeles County and across the state. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) extended and expanded financial help for health care premiums for those enrolled in Covered California. This assistance was originally passed in the American Rescue Plan, the federal […]
Governor Newsom Vetoes Major Bill on Health Care Mergers Allowing Private Equity Bad Actors to Continue to Flourish
Governor Newsom vetoed AB 3129 (Wood) that would have given Attorney General oversight on certain private equity acquisitions that may be harmful to patients SACRAMENTO, CA – Health care corporations have used their undue influence to yet again put patients in harm’s way by allowing bad actors to continue to interfere in our health care […]
New Federal Reports: What’s at Stake for Californians’ Health
As Congress considers making federal premium subsidies permanent, CA health advocates issue new reports on impacts by congressional district and region Reports also highlight what is at risk if the federal subsidies aren’t extended in the Central Valley and Riverside County, along with health impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Affordable Care Act […]
2024 Statewide Inflation Reduction Act Impact Report
Congressional actions over the last several years have helped lower health care prices for consumers across the state. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, extended and expanded financial help for health care premiums for those enrolled in Covered California. This assistance was originally passed as a part of the American Rescue Plan, the […]
As HHS Secretary Dr. Ghaly Departs, Health Advocates Praise His Leadership
Governor Gavin Newsom announced today the departure of HHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly after serving for over five years in the role and overseeing many major health care reforms SACRAMENTO, CA – Health Access California, the statewide health care consumer advocacy coalition, today praised the leadership of California’s Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark […]
Legislation to Stop Harmful Private Equity Health Care Takeovers Heads to Governor’s Desk
AB 3129 (Wood) protect patients by giving the Attorney General oversight on certain private equity acquisitions in our health care system SACRAMENTO, CA – As private equity in our health care system grows, the California Legislature voted on Saturday to pass AB 3129 by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Jim Wood to put more oversight on […]