Topic: Health

Expands public healthcare reporting requirements to include data from Community Health Centers on labor, revenue, workforce development, and mergers and acquisitions. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Advances the creation of a single payer healthcare system by engaging stakeholders and leaders in discussions on program and funding. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Allows Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland to provide overdose prevention programs, including safe injection sites with sterile consumption supplies, trained staff, and treatment resources

An act to amend Sections 1255.1 and 1255.25 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health facilities.

Lead Authors: Kalra Summary: Health insurance premiums for employer coverage have increased at 6 times the rate of inflation in the past 15 years. For coverage sold to individuals and small employers, California regulators use “rate review” to assess whether proposed rate hikes are based on credible data and realistic projections of increased costs. AB731 … Continued

Lead Author: Eggman Summary: Safe-injection sites offer protected space and clean supplies for people to use drugs with assistance from trained medical staff. Far from enabling drug use, safe-injection sites have played a role in reducing overdose mentality and improving public health in Canada. AB362 would allow California to establish contracts with safe-injection site operators … Continued

Lead Author: Chiu Summary: The practice of “balance billing” — forcing patients to pay surprise costs after they are treated, usually in an ER, by doctors who happen to be out of network — is yet another example of our broken healthcare system. AB1611 strikes down this practice, requiring providers charge the same out-of-pocket costs … Continued

Author: Hernandez Co-authors: Gloria, Mitchell   Many hospitalized, unhoused people are often at risk of being discharged out into extreme weather or other unsafe conditions, making them even more vulnerable to worsened illness. SB 1152 would create a hospital discharge planning process for patients experiencing homelessness that takes into account the unique medical and social … Continued

Author: Wiener Coauthors: Atkins, Gabriel   Prescription drug costs continue to skyrocket even as consumers face price increases for the cost of healthcare. Extending regulations enacted through AB339 in 2015, SB 1021 would continue to cap co-pays for prescription drug costs at $250 for a 30-day supply.

Author: Wood   The negative impacts health insurance mergers have on consumers — such as spikes in premium costs — are serious but can be mitigated by increasing oversight and accountability. AB 595 would provide that accountability by improving and expanding state oversight over health plan mergers by requiring insurance companies to receive authorization from … Continued

author: Allen co-authors: Hill, Stern   Every year, state and local governments spend millions of dollars cleaning ‘styrofoam’ (polystyrene) from parks, beaches, and drains. Polystyrene collects by the ton in California waterways, and in the stomachs of animals who eat it. SB 705 would prohibit food vendors from using polystyrene take-out containers, helping to protect … Continued

author: Skinner The further a person needs to go to obtain emergency medical care, the more likely they are to suffer or even die. The problem is being exacerbated as hospitals close as their owners search for greater profits. SB 687 would mandate that non-profit hospitals — which are often profit-driven despite their tax status … Continued

authors: Lara, Atkins co-authors: Bonta, Galgiani, Gomez, Wiener, Allen, Chiu, Friedman, Kalra, McCarty, McGuire, Nazarian, Skinner, Stone, Thurmond   Despite moderate progress under the Affordable Care Act, our healthcare system remains deeply immoral and inefficient. Health care for ALL should be a human right. SB 562 would create a comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage … Continued

author: Monning Service consolidations among multi-billion dollar hospital chains have contributed to skyrocketing health care costs in California and across the country. SB 538 would stop certain anti-competitive practices, many of which prevent employer groups from sharing pricing data that could encourage more cost-effective care for employees. (This bill died.)

Author: Talamantes Eggman Co-authors: Wiener, Friedman, Lara   4,654 people died of drug overdoses in 2016 in California alone, according to the Center for Disease Control. AB 186 would authorize local governments to operate safe, hygienic, and secure injection sites for IV drug users and protect users and staff from prosecution. Permitting local governments to … Continued

(Hernandez) Appropriations: 12-0-8   co-author: Chiu   The skyrocketing prices of life-saving prescription drugs (such as EpiPens, that increased in price almost 125% between 2007 and 2014) are hurting patients that need them. In 2013, households across the United States were spending about $858 per person on prescriptions – almost double the cost of many … Continued