BILL NUMBER: AB 23	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones

                        DECEMBER 1, 2008

   An act relating to health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 23, as introduced, Jones. Health care coverage.
   Existing law does not provide a system of health care coverage for
all California residents. Existing law provides for the creation of
various programs to provide health care services to persons who have
limited incomes and meet various eligibility requirements. These
programs include the Healthy Families Program administered by the
Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the Medi-Cal program
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services.
Existing law provides for the regulation of health care service plans
by the Department of Managed Health Care and health insurers by the
Department of Insurance.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to
accomplish the goal of universal health care coverage for all
California residents within 5 years, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to accomplish the
goal of universal health care coverage for all California residents
within five years. To accomplish this goal, the Legislature proposes
to take all of the following steps:
   (a) Ensure that Californians have access to affordable,
comprehensive health care coverage, including all California children
regardless of immigration status, with subsidies for Californians
with low incomes.
   (b) Leverage and coordinate with federal health care programs and
available federal funding, to the greatest extent possible,
including, but not limited to, Medicaid and the State Children's
Health Insurance Program, in support of health care coverage for
low-income and disabled populations, and other health system
improvement goals.
   (c) Maintain and strengthen the health insurance system and
improve availability, cost-effectiveness, and affordability of
private health care coverage for all purchasers, including employers,
employees, and individuals.
   (d) Implement meaningful, systemwide cost containment strategies,
expand access to primary and preventive services, and ensure
effective management of chronic illnesses.
   (e) Engage in early and systematic evaluation at each step of the
implementation process to identify the impacts on state costs, the
costs of coverage, employment and insurance markets, health delivery
systems, quality of care, and overall progress in moving toward
universal coverage.