PUSH FOR SINGLE-PAYER THREATENS ACA STABILITY

With rumors continuing to swirl around Republican-led efforts to repeal and replace the ACA, California legislative leaders are taking a different — but no less dangerous — approach. SB 562, The Healthy California Act, aims to transition California to a comprehensive and universal single-payer system. California has been a leader in the implementation of the ACA, and has made substantive and important progress that is now in a precarious position due to Congressional replacement proposals and actions by the Trump administration to undermine its implementation. The Healthy California Act is a symbolic measure that would have a massive impact on the state budget and healthcare system, while dividing the California healthcare and health policy community against itself at the exact wrong time. As such, the Bay Area Council has taken an oppose position on the bill.

This week, the Bay Area Council Economic Institute released a policy brief, A Pragmatic Approach to Medicaid Reform, highlighting practical bipartisan ways to increase sustainability, flexibility, and value for medical spending in the Medicaid program. Weinberg traveled to Sacramento on Thursday (April 13) to brief legislative staff and policy analysts on the brief and discuss other health reform issues at state and federal levels. This is the first in a series of health reform briefs that will be published throughout the year by the Institute. The briefs will be co-authored by Economic Institute President Micah Weinberg, PhD and Hoover Institution Fellow Lahnee Chen, PhD, who has served as an adviser to numerous public officials, the policy director to the Romney-Ryan presidential campaign, and as a senior official at Health and Human Services under George W. Bush.

To engage with the Council’s Healthcare Committee, please contact Economic Institute President Micah Weinberg.