New California legislation takes a step towards single-payer well being care

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a invoice Saturday that clears the best way for California to work towards common well being care, just like the single-payer system that progressive activists have hunted for years.

The legislation may assist California get hold of a waiver that might put aside federal Medicaid and Medicare funds to be used in what may finally develop into a single-payer system that covers each California resident and is funded completely with state and federal cash.

The California Secretary of Well being must make suggestions on the wording of the federal waiver by June 1, 2024, beneath Senate Invoice 770.

“With this signing, California takes a historic step towards common well being care.” stated a press release from the invoice’s writer, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). “The state will now start to reply the complicated query of tips on how to entry federal funding to fund a complete well being care system just like the single-payer system.”

For many years, Californians have tried and to fail And simply attempt once more About 10 times – To reform the well being care system within the nation. However makes an attempt at complete reform have been hampered by excessive prices, authorized and bureaucratic hurdles, and disagreement between teams inside the well being care business.

Weiner’s laws represents a piecemeal method that might start the method of fixing one piece of a posh puzzle, somewhat than trying to broadly revamp the well being care system.

Proponents of the single-payer mannequin discover fault with the present well being care system that makes so many sufferers pay Astronomical participation in cost Some are haunted Worry of the money owed that can accumulate on them Of medical procedures.

Whereas the invoice had the assist of many well being care reform advocates, it confronted opposition from each ends of the political spectrum. Critics on the left stated it would not go far sufficient in transferring California towards single-payer well being care, whereas critics on the proper stated it represents the last word aim of eliminating personal medical health insurance and elevating taxes.

The California Nurses Affiliation, which has advocated for single-payer well being care for many years, opposed the measure, arguing that the work the invoice asks the California Well being and Human Companies Company to do has already been carried out.

Carmen Comsti, an organizational coverage specialist for the nurses union, stated the invoice could be an “pointless” waste of state sources.

Michael Lighty, president of Wholesome California Now, the sponsor of Weiner’s invoice, responded that the laws guarantees a common system, which may embody a single-payer system.

“What we made clear is that there isn’t any predetermined end result,” Lighty stated.

Cindy Younger, a board member of the California Alliance for Retired People who helps Weiner’s invoice, careworn that point is of the essence, particularly for aged Californians.

“There are issues that older folks cannot afford or that eat up our pension cash so we are able to pay for these issues,” Younger, 68, stated. “Lengthy-term care is an absolute necessity. What’s going to occur to us if we won’t care for ourselves?

The nurses union is urging lawmakers to contemplate a extra bold single-payer invoice subsequent 12 months.