Start your plan to give! May 4th is the annual Big Day of Giving, a 24-hour giving event to raise funds for local nonprofits. We’re excited to be participating this year to support our work. At Health Access, we recognize that California’s diverse communities have distinct needs and issues. As a team, we work tirelessly […]

Mark Your Calendars! Support Us on May 4th for Big Day of Giving
CA Assembly Health Committee to Vote on Bill to Open up Covered California Regardless of Immigration Status, as New Report Details Need for Coverage for All
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 […]
AB 666 (Arambula) Nonprofit Hospital Community Benefits: Accountability & Transparency
Statement on ACA Ruling Putting at Risk Preventative Services for Millions of Californians
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 […]
2023 Care4all California Agenda for Health Reform Announced
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 […]
Statement Responding to Governor Newsom’s CalRX Announcement Saturday
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. […]
Consumer Advocates Release Key Goals for New Office of Health Care Affordability
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. […]
AB 1091 (Wood) Expanding Health Care Merger Oversight
New Campaign Launched To Protect CA Patients From Harmful Health Mergers
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 […]

2023 Health Access Policy Priorities
With daylight savings time upon us and most of the state experiencing near-record snowpack levels, there’s one other forecast we can expect like any other season, and that’s the beginning of a new state legislative session! Building off another successful year of historic health consumer wins, Health Access is advancing a robust 2023 health reform […]
AB 1208 (Schiavo) Covered California Cost-Sharing Help
CA AG Oversight of Nonprofit Hospital Mergers
SB 595 (Roth)
CA Health Care Affordability Board Selected
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 […]
Bills Introduced To Protect Patients From Harmful Health Mergers
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 […]

AB 948 (Berman) Keeping Prescription Drugs Affordable

AB 236 (Holden) Ensuring Accurate Health Plan Provider Directories
Every health plan in California is required to maintain an updated list of in-network health care providers to their enrollees. These include doctors, mental health professionals, hospitals, labs, imaging centers, and more. When consumers go to search for a new doctor or mental health specialist, they must be able to rely on these “provider directories” […]

Top Health Care Takeaways from Governor Newsom’s 2023-24 CA Budget Proposal
On Tuesday Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2023-24 state budget, continuing commitments to expand and improve Medi-Cal, including the plan to remove all barriers for income-eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status, in Medi-Cal beginning January 2024. As we continue to face an ongoing pandemic and increasing economic uncertainty, we applaud this step to include […]
Governor Newsom’s 2023-24 Ca Budget Proposal Keeps Key Medi-Cal Commitments, But Claws Back Money For Health Affordability Assistance
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 […]