[courtesy of California Progress Report]

* Insurers would face restrictions in cancelling coverage retroactively
* Patients would be better able to assess hospital cost and quality data
* Other bills on hospital community benefits and "boutique hospitals"

By Hanh Kim Quach
Health Care Policy Coordinator
Health Access California

The Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday approved a smattering of bills that would begin to set the foundation for health care reform, providing security to health consumers – both for their coverage and choice of provider.

Two of the bills deal with the insurer practice of retroactively canceling policies after patients become sick and need expensive treatments. These rescissions leave patients tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousands in debt. Another bill would require medical providers to disclose cost and quality information in order to give purchasers more power in selecting the highest quality and most efficient care.

RESCISSIONS

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

We start out with an analysis which at least has a bit of humor, before a smattering of what others have to say.

Lynn Suter of Suter, Wallauch, Corbett & Associates

Kill Bill: Although Senator Kuehl politely described action on AB 1x 1 as "the bill is being held in committee," plainspeak would dictate "the bill was defeated by the Senate Committee on Health." Although offered a reconsideration vote at a later time, the author--Speaker Fabian Nunez--declined. Everybody has just had enough for now. The LAO's analysis and the thorough airing of issues in AB 1X 1 at last week's hearing convinced Committee members that the Health Coverage Initiative is not ready for prime time. The biggest problem, according to committee members, was too many ifs, ands, and buts in the financing package. Coping with the uncertainty at a time of egregious fiscal woes in the state budget was just too much for the Senators to follow.

One Eye Blinking: The vote wasn't even close. All other votes cast were "no" votes except for Alquist, Cedillo, and Steinberg, who abstained. The only "Aye" vote on the 11-member Committee was Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, who exhorted his colleagues to "take a step in the right direction," and to "move off the status quo."

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California State Senate Health Committee this afternoon killed AB 1X 1 to reform the state’s health care system and bring insurance coverage to many of the millions who lack it. It received one vote, that of Democratic Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, who moved that the committee approve it.

The committee’s mood was somber and reflective, as each member on the 11 member panel save Ridley-Thomas, gave statements as to why they could not support the measure. All, or almost all, were complimentary of the efforts made by the Speaker and the Governor to try to forge a compromise. Republicans and Democrats alike also gave kudos to Senator Sheila Kuehl, the chair of the committee, for the manner in which she handled the hearings. There was consensus that this was the way that the legislature should deliberate on important matters. Thanks were also expressed to the Office of the Legislative Analyst for a quick turnaround of a report on the financial underpinnings and assumptions of the bill.

Nevertheless, the bill is dead for the year, given deadlines for placement of measures to fund any such measure for the November ballot.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Adam Thompson
Policy Specialist
Progressive States

On Monday, the California Assembly passed a compromise health care reform measure that is intended to bring health care to at least 70% of the state's uninsured and reduce costs for everyone. The compromise measure was crafted by the Speaker and Senate President to mitigate concerns that led Governor Schwarzenegger to veto an earlier version. This time, Governor Schwarzenegger hailed the vote, calling it "courageous" and saying "we are closer than ever to fixing our broken healthcare system."