URGENT CALL TO ACTION
Passage of ABX1 1 Will Do More Harm than Good!
January 24, 2008

The LWVC opposes ABX1 1 (Nunez), the health care reform bill promoted by Assembly Speaker Nunez and Governor Schwarzenegger. ABX1 1 was the subject of a very long hearing in the Senate Health Committee yesterday. All aspects of this proposal were thoroughly examined, including the new Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) report about the proposal’s fiscal impact and risks. The League was among the organizations and individuals that spoke forcefully in opposition to the bill.

The committee did not vote on the bill at the hearing. Instead, the committee vote will be taken next Monday, January 28. If the bill is passed by the committee, it may be sent to a floor vote very quickly. The supporters of the bill will be intensely lobbying the committee members in the next few days, so it is extremely important for opposing views to be heard.

Last Monday, we sent out a Call to Action to those League presidents and action directors whose state senators are on the Health Committee. We are now sending that alert to all Leagues. Every senator needs to hear that ABX1 1 is NOT the solution to California’s health care crisis.

ACTION NEEDED

This is our best opportunity to keep this bill from progressing further! Senators need to hear from as many constituents as possible.

If your state senator is a member of the Senate Health Committee*:

• Phone or fax your senator as soon as possible and urge him or her to vote NO on ABX1 1 when the committee votes next Monday, January 28. (Leave a voicemail message if the office is closed when you call.)
• Send an email to your friends and colleagues with a link to this page suggesting that they call their state senator.

*Members of the Senate Health Committee are Senators Kuehl (chair), Aanestad (vice chair), Alquist, Cedillo, Cox, Maldonado, Negrete McLeod, Ridley-Thomas, Steinberg, Wyland, and Yee.

If your state senator is not on the Health Committee:

• Contact him or her and urge a NO vote on ABX1 1 if it comes to the Senate floor for a vote.
• Send an email to your friends and colleagues with a link to this page suggesting that they call their state senator.

Contact information for your legislator is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.

POINTS TO MAKE

ABX1 1 fails to meet the goal of universal, affordable, and comprehensive coverage for all Californians. There are major flaws in this bill, and it is not the solution to California’s health care crisis.

Cost controls, both on the system as a whole and on the cost of coverage to consumers and employers, are inadequate.

• Except for public programs, there still are no controls on the total costs for premiums and out-of-pocket expenditures for individuals. Provisions to increase affordability still rely on reduced coverage.
• While employers’ costs are capped, there are no limits placed on costs borne by employees. However, they are required to accept coverage if offered by the employer, no matter how unaffordable.
• The provisions in the bill which are described as cost control measures are geared more toward improving quality of care than toward controlling costs.
• Tax credits, which only apply to a limited number in the individual market (not to anyone with employer-provided coverage), are very complex and will be difficult to administer. Many to whom they apply may have income variations within a given year which would affect their eligibility for the tax credit.

The individual mandate would saddle many Californians with expensive, inadequate coverage.

• It would not control the cost of coverage, except by exempting individuals who would be left uninsured.
• Although there is a requirement for “minimum creditable coverage” that is to be defined by regulation instead of statute, comprehensive coverage will not be ensured.
• In addition, qualification for exemption from the mandate to buy insurance is based on the cost of premiums and does not include out-of-pocket costs. Since minimum-coverage policies inevitably include high out-of-pocket costs, many individuals and families will defer needed health care. Untreated conditions will result in higher costs in the long run.

Employers who currently offer their employees adequate health coverage could reduce benefits or shift more costs to employees.

LEAGUE POSITION: The League of Women Voters believes that a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost should be available to all residents. View our position here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact LWVC Health Care Program Director Barbara Storey.

Background information on health care reform efforts in California is available at Health Care Reform.

KEEP US INFORMED: Send an e-mail to advocacy@lwvc.org to let us know what action you have taken and any responses you have received.