As state legislation designed to improve health equity continues to be introduced and enacted in state legislatures across the U.S., California became one of the latest to seek to pass a bill that would begin to consolidate existing healthcare programs, secure federal waivers, and obtain public financing. Specifically, the bill would put in place a robust governance framework, program standards, and benefits that would provide greater access to healthcare, and better outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations.
The introduction of the bill comes at a time when greater awareness is rapidly growing regarding the health disparity gaps that became more visible during the Covid-19 global pandemic. Specifically, research has shown that individuals in underrepresented communities had less access to Covid-19 information, medical care, and health providers who shared patients’ racial, cultural and language backgrounds. CalCare seeks to change that.
Proponents of the bill are promulgating its design to guarantee comprehensive health care to all California residents, as a basic human right. Advocates are citing the legislation’s establishment of the state’s first-ever Office of Health Equity that would support and encourage enhanced health equity. The bill also includes provisions that would advance health equity in other ways, such as:
- Creating an Advisory Committee to give guidance on the integration of public employee retiree health benefits into CalCare;
- Requiring increased levels of investments by providers to attract and retain health care workers to address the shortage of high quality health care providers, particularly in low-income regions;
- Providing for CalCare board of directors seats for medical doctors; and
- Listing a broad range of reproductive care offerings under CalCare.
The bill can be found here.
