DATE:
March 21, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
April Richardson, City Clerk
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Supporting Assembly Bill 1690 (Kalra), The Calcare Act, That Would State The Legislature’s Intent To Guarantee A Comprehensive Universal Single-Payer Health Care Coverage Program And A Health Care Cost Control System For The Benefit Of All Residents Of The State Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution supporting AB 1690, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, which would advocate for the creation of CalCare, a single-payer health insurance program for all California residents that is comprehensive, uniform, equitable, and governed by the CalCare board.
Background
At the March 7, 2023, City Council meeting, Mayor Bauters requested and received majority support for adding a Resolution to the next agenda in support of this bill.
Discussion
AB 1690, introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra would do the following:
(1) Establish a comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage system for all California residents without discrimination, ensuring that affordable access to health care is a human right. (2) Establish a CalCare board of nine members that would have jurisdiction over enrollment policies, negotiate pricing, secure and allocate funding, and oversee all federal waivers. (3) Establish the CalCare Trust Fund in the State Treasury to provide a continuous and prudent source of funding for this program.
While the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has done much to ameliorate the crisis of insufficient healthcare coverage in California, many residents are still left without adequate means to access necessary medical resources. AB 1690 seeks to address this issue by implementing a universal single-payer health care coverage system. Specifically, this bill calls for government oversight that would establish a cost control system, offer a wide range of medical benefits equal to or of greater quality than existing state and private provision, establish working relationships with approved providers for accountability, and increase accessibility for disabled persons and underrepresented groups to attain the ultimate goal of eliminating health care disparities in the state of California.
In terms of eligibility and enrollment, every resident of the state of California would not only be eligible but entitled to CalCare membership, without any fees. Additionally, to address the continuously increasing population of out-of-state university students in the state, CalCare would allow higher education institutions to purchase coverage for non-resident students. CalCare also addresses high-cost prescription drugs and includes dietary and nutrition therapies, in addition to coverage for long-term services currently denied under many plans.
The state of California has a diverse population that requires a flexible health care coverage program to meet a range of needs. This legislation is a step in that direction, providing culturally-competent services through accommodations such as language interpretation, translation, and more integrated services for disabled Californians.
Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the need for a more comprehensive, accessible, and transparent health care coverage system. CalCare would establish the CalCare Trust Fund in the State Treasury, which would maintain an appropriate funding reserve for responding to health emergencies such as epidemics, pandemics, or natural disasters.
The Emeryville City Council is requested to support AB 1690 and send the attached Resolution to Assemblymember Ash Kalra, Senator Nancy Skinner, and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact.
Staff Communication with the Public
This item was requested by Mayor Bauters at the March 7, 2023, City Council meeting.
Conflict of Interest
There is no conflict of interest.
PREPARED BY: April Richardson, City Clerk
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/uc-s-california-student-enrollment-climbs-fourth-straight-year Supporting AB 1690
City Council Meeting | March 21, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM