A restructured Healthy California Campaign is preparing for a politically active 2019 and beyond, undaunted by the failure to pass 2016’s Healthy California Act.
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST
It may be hard to believe but health care has been a California issue for a century. Beginning in 1918, The California Health Insurance Program (Prop 20) was rejected by the voters. It would have created a healthcare system for the poor.
A generation later, in 1944 under Governor Earl Warren, AB800 died in committee. It proposed a payroll-tax funded universal single-payer system. Governor Warren did not give up, however. His next attempt was five years later, in 1949. AB863, which would have established a prepaid single-payer plan, also died in committee. And so on
For an historical overview of California efforts to win a just healthcare system, check out this handy timeline, courtesy of KPCC, Southern California Public Radio.
Bottom line, every effort to date has failed, including the latest effort, The Healthy California Act (SB562), introduced in 2016.
Instead of advancing Healthy California, Assembly Speaker Rendon ordered a series of Select Committee Hearings be held.
In spite of the hearings, which were held in late 2016 and early 2017, no progress was made on increasing healthcare affordability, controlling prescription drug pricing or improving accessibility to care. Rather than working on big solutions like California Medicare for All, the legislators recommended a series of legislative band-aids, most of which did not advance.
AN AUTOPSY OF SB562
While the circumstances, manner and cause of its death may be unclear, it is an undisputed fact that the Healthy California Act died in committee. Unsurprisingly, the reasons depend on whom you ask. Some point out that the California Democratic Party is a house divided, since Senator Ricardo Lara introduced the bill and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon shelved it. Others see a lack of political will, as politicians remain at the beck and call of lobbyists representing corporate healthcare profiteers. Meanwhile their constituents are literally dying.
There were also disputed allegations that SB562 would never get passed because it was incomplete (compared to Kuehl’s SB840), and that there were fractures within the coalition.
Bottom line, SB562 failed due to a combination of factors, most especially the fundamental reluctance of the California legislature to move forward on single-payer.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?
New governor, new hope. Gavin Newsom won his race on a “California values” platform that included a single-payer healthcare system.
But as reported in Politico, some think his position may be more “principle” than “policy.“ Victoria Colliver reports in an 11/15/18 Politico article:
Most observers still expect Newsom to initially take a piecemeal approach and devote more state money to making coverage more affordable while also addressing prescription drug prices and strengthening California’s health care marketplaces.
Meanwhile, the Healthy California Campaign refuses to sit on the sidelines. The coalition is gearing up to hit the ground running in 2019.
Around 80 people from over 20 pro-single-payer organizations (representing labor, progressives, seniors, doctors, nurses, businesses and single-payer advocates), attended a preliminary meeting last September, and they continue to meet on an on-going basis to develop strategy and more.
Stay tuned as the situation continues to unfold!
—Georgia Brewer
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HEAL California is an independent news and information hub focused on the California Medicare for All movement. We feature non-partisan news, views, podcasts and videos that highlight the continuing failures of our broken healthcare system and elevate the voices of advocates and organizations fighting for change.
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