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UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

Update on “Universal Health Coverage”

Governor Schwarzenegger Joins U.S. HHS Secretary Leavitt, Expands the Use of Health IT, Increasing Patient Safety, Quality of Care and Lowering Health Care Costs

Continuing his efforts to make health care more accessible and affordable for all Californians, Governor Schwarzenegger met with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt on mid-March in San Diego and signed an Executive Order that moves forward California’s efforts to adopt health information technology, increase transparency of quality and pricing information, and increase accountability in public and private health care delivery systems.

California Democrats Develop Plan that Falls short of the “Universal Health Coverage” Sougth by Governor

California Democratic legislators are "forging ahead" on a plan to insure millions of Californians, though not to provide the "universal coverage" Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to obtain, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Source(s): Rau, Los Angeles Times, 4/22/07 More

 Governor called attention to California's ongoing health care crisis

By mid-April, Governor Schwarzenegger came to San Diego invited by the Scripps Hospital Governor Tours Scripps Mercy Hospital Emergency Room

California Gov. Schwarzenegger Proposes Universal Health Coverage for All State Residents, Including Undocumented Immigrants

SOURCE: KAISER NETWORK.ORG

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a proposal that would extend coverage under Medi-Cal, the state Medicaid program, to all adults with annual incomes of as much as 100% of the federal poverty level and to children -- regardless of their immigration status -- in households with annual incomes of as much as 300% of the federal poverty level (New York Times, 1/9). The proposal would provide additional subsidies to help state residents with annual incomes of as much as 250% of the federal poverty level purchase health insurance. In addition, the proposal would increase by $4 billion reimbursements to health care providers under Medi-Cal (Appleby, USA Today, 1/9). Under the proposal, physicians would have to pay 2% and hospitals would have to pay 4% of their revenue to help cover the cost of the program (Ainsworth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/9). According to Schwarzenegger aides, the governor would finance the proposal in part with about $5 billion in federal matching funds that the state will receive as a result of restructured health care programs and with state funds currently used to finance charity care (New York Times, 1/9). GET THE COMMENT BY FOLLOWING THE LINK CONTINUED

Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement Regarding Senate Republican Health Care Proposal

The people of California are tired of a broken health care system and expect Sacramento to take action. “I completely share the Senate Republicans’ focus on tax reform as a key strategy to realize savings and increase health coverage. Expanding health savings accounts, increasing the use of Section 125 plans and driving down costs to achieve savings are all great ideas. The bottom line is: any health care reform must be a net tax reduction for the people and businesses of California. “I look forward to working with my Senate Republican colleagues on their health care proposal. As I have said from the start, there is no one perfect plan and every idea needs to be included in the debate. Republicans and Democrats must work together to reform health care in the best interest of all Californians.”

SOURCE: Office of the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger www.gov.ca.gov