California is hitting the brakes on a proposed bill calling for a state-based single-payer healthcare system, reports KQED.
The Senate approved the Healthy California Act June 1. However, State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, will not advance the bill, meaning additional legislative action will not take place this year, according to the report.
"As someone who has long been a supporter of single payer, I am encouraged by the conversation begun by Senate Bill 562," Mr. Rendon said in a statement. "However, SB 562 was sent to the Assembly woefully incomplete. Even senators who voted for SB 562 noted there are potentially fatal flaws in the bill, including the fact it does not address many serious issues, such as financing, delivery of care, cost controls, or the realities of needed action by the Trump Administration and voters to make SB 562 a genuine piece of legislation.
"In light of this, I have decided SB 562 will remain in the Assembly Rules Committee until further notice."
The bill calls for a state-based single-payer system under which physicians and hospitals would contract with California for care, reports KQED. The physicians and hospitals would still be private entities.
In his statement, Mr. Rendon noted the bill is not "dead" due to the recent action in California.
"In fact, it leaves open the exact deep discussion and debate the senators who voted for SB 562 repeatedly said is needed. The Senate can use that time to fill the holes in SB 562 and pass and send to the Assembly workable legislation that addresses financing, delivery of care and cost control," he said.