[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Senate Passes SB1522 (Steinberg), Standardizing Insurance & Prohibiting "Junk" Coverage
• Assembly Passes AB2967 (Lieber), Providing Transparency on Cost and Quality of Care
• Also: Bills Pass to Regulate Insurers on Rescission, Maternity Coverage, Mental Health Parity, and Requiring 85% of Premium for Patient Care

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

Health reform continues to be a hot topic at the State Capitol. Passing their first floor vote and the half-way point in the California Legislature, key health bills would provide patients with new information and needed consumer protections regarding their care and coverage.

The Assembly and Senate passed several key health care bills, including ones to protect consumers from "junk" insurance; to increase transparency about the cost and quality of care; to regulate the practice of retroactively denying coverage to patients; and to mandate coverage of maternity and mental health services. The health reform conversation is alive and well.

The following bills passed:

INSURER OVERSIGHT:

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]