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CMA Coalition Launches Health Care Reform Ads
Our coalition, Together for Health Care, is off and running in its ad campaign. Today, television ads featuring CMA's own Dr. Robert Splawn, a Los Angeles emergency physician, began running in Fresno and Bakersfield. The same ad began airing last week in Sacramento. Click here for the full story.
Significant Developments in Health Reform Health reform is truly moving forward. A series of significant developments in recent weeks have great meaning for doctors and their patients. Democratic leaders in the California Senate and Assembly finally came to an agreement on the last outstanding detail of their two comparable plans: employer contributions. They this week submitted a joint proposal that most employers dedicate at least 7.5% of their payrolls to health care costs for their workers. Notably, the Democrats’ plans do not include a 2% tax on doctors or a 4% tax on hospitals, as the Governor's plan does. Click here for the full story.
Health Reform Coalition Moves Forward with New Members, Media Campaign, Meetings with Administration
As you know, CMA in February joined forces with organizations representing doctors, hospitals, health care workers and insurers to form “Together for Health Care,” a coalition with the unifying imperative to move health care reform forward this year. The coalition has since expanded to include the AARP, California Teachers Association, and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Click here for the full story.
Nine out of 10 Californians Support Health Care Reform; Majority Oppose Taxing Doctors
A survey that will be released this evening by the well respected Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows strong public support for changes in the delivery of health care in California. This support crosses nearly all partisan, ethnic, regional, and gender lines. Click here for the full story.
Assembly Republicans Will Soon Unveil Their Own Plan for Health system Reform
Assembly Republican leadership is expected to unveil its health system reform plan tomorrow morning. While details of the plan have not been released, we expect that it will include tax reforms intended to create incentives for the purchase of health savings accounts, expanded scope of practice for physician extenders, and increased physician Medi-Cal rates. Click here for the full story.
Record Number of Bills Introduced Aimed at Redefining Scope of Practice
As 2007 continues to unfold as a year of major health care reform in California, varied special interests are positioning themselves to capitalize in this environment of change. The Governor and legislative leaders have submitted their proposals to the public, understanding that responsibly reforming the system is a major issue. Click here for the full story.
Governor Urges President, Congress to follow california model of bipartisanship
The biggest news of this past week was the Governor's trip to Washington, D.C. Continuing his theme of bipartisanship, Governor Schwarzenegger implored the President and Congress to work together using California as a model. California's bipartisan legislative efforts used to pass last year's historic infrastructure bond package are a great example of what can be accomplished by working together. Click here for the full story.
CMA Testfies at First Senate Hearing on Governor’s Health Care Reform Plan
The Senate Health Committee held its first public informational hearing on the Governor’s health care reform proposal last week. Representing CMA was Vice President of Government Relations Dustin Corcoran, who spoke about the need to expand access to care and increase Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. He also spoke squarely in opposition to the proposed 2 percent tax on doctors. Click here for the full story.
CMA Adamantly Opposed to Governor’s Proposed 2% Tax on Doctors
There should be no confusion: CMA is adamantly opposed to the Governor’s proposal to tax doctors two percent of their gross revenues to finance expanded health coverage for Californians. Just hours after the proposal was released, Dr. Mahal unequivocally stated CMA’s opposition before a panel of stakeholders convened to discuss the Governor’s plans for health care reform. Our opposition has never waned. Click here for the full story.
Coalition Formed to Advance Health Care Reform
Today, CMA along with hospitals, insurers, and health care workers today announced the formation of a coalition committed to work together to ensure that health care reform occurs this year. The announcement was not a promise to support all elements of any plan that emerges. In fact many members of the coalition, including CMA, oppose aspects of the Governor’s current proposal. Members of the coalition did, however, join together in support of three core principles critical to achieving comprehensive reform. Click here for the full story.
Republicans Weigh In on Health Care Reform Debate
Today, Senate Republicans added their voice to the growing chorus calling for health care reform. The GOP plan focuses on tax credits and HSA plans to address California’s health care concerns. Senator George Runner (R-Lancaster), one of the principal authors, said “our plan focuses not on coverage, but access.” Click here for the full story.
Health Care Reform Debate Heats Up
Sacramento has been a busy place this week, with talk of potential legal challenges to the Governor’s health care reform proposal and the introduction of a number of alternative proposals. If you’ve been reading CMA’s press clips, you’ve seen that health care reform has gotten significant news coverage around the state. Click here for the full story.
Previous Headlines
Update on Health Care Debate
This past week has been as eventful as we had all been anticipating. As an organization, we are experiencing a mix of emotions ranging from hopeful and excited at the potential of reforming a long neglected health care system, to anxious and concerned about some of the proposed “solutions.” Click here for the full story.
CMA Commends Governor’s Efforts to Expand Health Care, But Objects to 2% Tax on Physicians; Policy-Makers Reminded that Focus Must Be on Preserving Patient-Physician Relationship
Governor Schwarzenegger Friday unveiled a plan to provide health care to all Californians. The proposal would expand Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs and require all Californians to have health insurance. Families above the Medi-Cal threshold, but with incomes below 250 percent of the federal poverty level ($41,500 for a family of three), would be able to purchase insurance from a subsidized purchasing pool. The proposal would also require employers to offer insurance or pay 4 percent of their payroll into the purchasing pool.
Click here for the full story.
Governor’s Efforts to Expand Health Care Commended, Caution Urged: Policy Prescription Must Protect Patients’ Relationships With Their Doctors (CMA News Release)
The physicians of California applaud the governor for addressing the long-ignored health care policies of this state, but urged policymakers to remember that the center of the health care system is patients and their ability to see and be treated by a doctor. Click here for the full story.
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