Several influential physician groups and healthcare organizations are rallying together to oppose any future efforts by state legislators to craft a universal healthcare system for California, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Here are six things to know:
1. The coalition, named Californians Against the Costly Disruption of Our Healthcare, aims to kill any single-payer healthcare bill introduced into the state legislature during the next session, a political strategist for the group told The Sacramento Bee. Senate Bill 562, which was proposed last year and outlined a plan for single-payer healthcare in the state, was shelved.
2. Instead of single-payer healthcare, the coalition seeks to press for alternatives, such as expanding state insurance subsidies, allowing undocumented adults to sign up for Medi-Cal and creating a state-based individual mandate allowing everyone to have coverage.
3. The California Nurses Association, which was influential in crafting Senate Bill 562, according to The Sacramento Bee, acknowledged to the publication the bill is likely dead, as the end of the two-year session will occur Aug. 31. However, an executive with the organization said they aim to introduce a similar bill into the legislature next year.
"We are working on a bill. The California Nurses Association is in no way backing off pursuing legislation to achieve 'Medicare for all' next year. [California State Assembly] Speaker [Anthony] Rendon's act of shelving the bill last spring only strengthened our resolve," the executive told The Sacramento Bee.
4. The coalition, which consists of organizations like the California Association of Health Plans and the California Chamber of Commerce, said it is gearing up to fight any attempts to pass such legislation next year, with the focus of their message on how expensive single-payer healthcare would be for California residents and its effect on patients. Leaders said they will target their efforts on the state legislature and the next governor, but will not rule out spending on advertising and other public messaging, the report states.
5. California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the frontrunner in the California governor's race, has voiced support for a single-payer system, but has also expressed concerns over how the state would create such a system, which may cost an estimated $400 billion per year and may require significant tax increases. Such a move would also require voters to approve amendments to the state constitution and require California to secure several federal waivers from the Trump administration, according to the report.
6. A spokesperson for Mr. Newsom told The Sacramento Bee, "As he did as mayor, Gavin Newsom will bring stakeholders of differing perspectives together to achieve a health system that is bold, affordable and works for everyone."
To access the full report, click here.