Latino Issues Forum Encouraged By Revised Health Care Proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Nora Vargas |
Revisions Provide Greater Promise to Expand Access to Health Care for Latinos
San Francisco – With less than two months left in the “Year of Health Care Reform” and no deal yet, Latino Issues Forum (LIF) expressed support and optimism with the latest proposal released by Assembly Speaker Núñez and Senator Pro Tem Perata yesterday in Sacramento. “With this latest health care proposal, Latino Issues Forum is very encouraged that real reform will be achieved this year,” stated Nora Vargas, Executive Director of Latino Issues Forum. “We are still reviewing the details but so far we see promise in the new proposal.”
According to Vargas, the Latino community has the least access to health care coverage even though Latinos have high workforce participation rates. “Latinos work hard providing California with economic prowess and productivity but do not have access to basic health care services.” As a result, many Latinos develop chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are easily preventable through regular access to care.
Based on issues raised in the Governor’s veto message of Assembly Bill 8, passed by the State Legislature but rejected by the Administration, the Democrats revised proposal seeks to bridge differences. The new proposal continues to use an employer “pay or play” model, requiring employers to provide health care benefits or pay into a statewide purchasing pool, but includes a sliding scale for employers’ fees between 2%-6.5% of payroll. Several expansions are made to public programs beyond what was proposed in AB 8 including coverage to families below 300% of the federal poverty level ($51,510 for family of 3) and single childless adults making up to $25,525 a year. The proposal contains affordability measures such as no cost sharing for very low-income families and premiums similar to those in the Healthy Families program. A few new provisions are disconcerting for LIF including a requirement on individuals to maintain health coverage and proposed reductions to the safety net.
“While we remain hopeful for health care reform, we are concerned with some new provisions the Speaker has taken,” stated Ortensia Lopez, Executive Director of El Concilio and LIF co-founding board member. “The new proposal includes a requirement that families and individuals maintain coverage. Even with exemptions, the impact of the individual mandate, especially on very low-income and highly mobile families that move from county to county for seasonal work, could be devastating.” LIF has also expressed concerns about the proposed reductions to the safety net through what is being called a “county share of cost.” Insured and uninsured families receive care through the safety net, which include community clinics, meaning any reductions will limit access to emergency care and community clinics as a regular source of care.
“We will continuing working with the Administration and Legislative leaders to ensure health care reform is done and done right,” stated Vargas. “In the next week, we will have an in-depth analysis of the impact on Latinos in California and be able to take a firm position. This issue is of utmost importance to the Latino community, achieving health care reform is truly a matter of life and death for our community.”
Latino Issues Forum (LIF) is a non-profit public policy and advocacy institute dedicated to advancing new and innovative public policy solutions for a better, more equitable and prosperous society. More information at www.lif.org.
November 7, 2007 at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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