[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Reform efforts continue in 2008 on individual market reform and transparency
• Consumer protection measures focus on balance billing and rescissions
• Health advocates oppose bills to lower coverage standards

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

Undaunted by last year's failure to pass comprehensive health reform legislation , health advocates statewide are forging ahead on a three-year effort to win universal health coverage in California.

A number of bills have been introduced this year, which attempt to address various aspects of the health care market, and build upon last year's momentum and policy discussions. Many of the topics will be familiar to advocates who have worked on reform. In fact, many of the ideas being pushed this year were present -- in some form -- in ABx1 1 (Nunez). Those ideas include the disclosure of cost and quality data by health providers, a statewide public insurer to compete with private plans, and the organization of the individual insurance market into tiers and an ultimate ban on "junk" insurance.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The 100% Campaign and other children's advocates will be launching a new radio ad tomorrow pushing for universal health coverage for children in California. It's a continuation of radio spots that have existed since January and will run through mid-August in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and some smaller markets. The spot calls on listeners to encourage "elected leaders" to push for a health care plan that includes all children.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

Both the plan and the Clinton. No, Hillary was not talking about health care in California, unfortunately. It was Bill who spoke at a health care symposium and endorsed Arnold's health care proposal. KCBS:

Former President Bill Clinton voiced enthusiastic support for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s healthcare reform plan and said he will do everything he can to help it pass. [snip]

"As an individual, the most important thing you can do right now, living in California, in my opinion, is to do everything you possibly can to pass the reforms that the legislature and Schwarzenegger are working on, even if it's not perfect," said Clinton.

He added that if California passes the plan, the rest of the nation will have to sit up and take notice. It could even jumpstart a national campaign for universal health coverage, he said.

I actually agree with Clinton, if California passed the Schwazenegger plan, it would be national news. He has pushed forward significant changes, though many are flawed. It would change the national discussion on universal health care, just like AB 32 did to global warming.

There was some movement on health care legislation in California in the last to days, of course it was not on the Arnold plan. That would be impossible, seeing as though no legislator has actually introduced it in bill form. Instead it was Sen. Sheila Kuhls SB840 and Assm. Dave Jones' AB1554 making their way through the legislative process.

Yesterday, Jones' proposed regulation of health insurance rates passed through its first committee test. Hundreds of people packed the hallways in support of Kuehl's single-payer bill. Speaking of crowds, there were some big ones in support of Its OUR Health Care yesterday. Randy has some great coverage and pictures.