California Senator Mark Leno’s Universal Health Care Act Clears First Committee Wednesday, April 15, 2009
posted by Claudia Chaufan
Senate Bill 810 provides comprehensive health care benefits to every Californian
Press release
SACRAMENTO – Senator Mark Leno’s Universal Health Care Act passed the Senate Health Committee today with a 7-4 vote. Senate Bill 810 guarantees comprehensive health care benefits to every California resident and is proven to contain health care spending and improve quality and delivery at the same time.
“California is leading the way to health care reform with a fiscally-sound, affordable plan that allows patients to choose their own doctors,” said Senator Leno (D-San Francisco). “More than 12 million Californians were uninsured at some point last year. Yet with all the money we spend today on health care, we could have a modern, universal health care system that provides quality care for everyone. SB 810 is the solution to our growing health care crisis,” he said.
The California Universal Health Care Act provides every California resident medical, dental, vision, hospitalization and prescription drug benefits. Putting an emphasis on prevention and primary health care, SB 810 invests in modern technologies and infrastructure that help improve care and reduce costs. The plan also reduces administrative waste and utilizes California’s purchasing power to realize savings on prescriptions and medical equipment.
SB 810 is co-authored by 45 legislators in both houses, including Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Senator Elaine Alquist, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, and Assemblymember Dave Jones, chair of the Assembly Committee on Health. The bill is also supported by a broad coalition of patients, nurses, doctors, teachers and school employees, retired workers, local governments and school districts. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest public school system in the U.S., supports the legislation because it would save the school district millions of dollars each year.
“In addition to saving the Los Angeles Unified School Districts hundreds of millions of dollars on an annual basis, SB 810 would wipe out the disparities in health care and outcomes that mirror the achievement gap found among various groups of California’s students,” said Virginia Strom-Martin, Legislative Advocate for the school district. “As the nation’s second largest school district, we are painfully aware that the present health care system is broken and we are putting our students at risk of not achieving academic success without accessible, affordable and adequate healthcare. SB 810 will help guarantee that children enter school ready to learn and reach their full potential,” she said.
The California Universal Health Care Act is nearly identical to legislation (SB 840) introduced in 2007 by former Senator Sheila Kuehl. The California Legislature passed SB 840 in 2008, but it was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
SB 810 will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
It is, Jay. And the only way to make the point is joining in, as you are doing. Thanks
At this point I am convinced that a single payer health care system is the only logical and efficient way to address our inequities in ouirk health cares system. Further, I also support limiting medical malpractice settlements. This is so consistent with the national trends and the President’s health system goals. I am working with others in this community to provide support for these goals. Thanks for your efforts. Jay Bell