Lara Announces Details On Single-Payer Health Proposal For California

March 30--Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, released policy details about a plan to create a single-payer health care system for all California residents on Thursday.

Lara's proposal would drastically alter the insurance market in the state.

Under the single-payer plan, the state would negotiate prices for services and prescriptions with providers, pharmaceutical companies and others.

Californians would be required to participate in the public program and insurance companies would be barred from offering coverage for services already included in the the plan, according to Lara's office.

"With Republicans' failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Californians really get what is at stake with their healthcare," Lara said in a statement. "We have the chance to make universal healthcare a reality now. It's time to talk about how we get to healthcare for all that covers more and costs less."

The Healthy California Act, also known as Senate Bill 562, would cover all medical care, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency care, dental, vision, mental health and nursing home care, according to a press release from Lara's office. The bill would eliminate co-pays and insurance deductibles, allow Californians to choose their doctor and referrals would not be required.

A nine-member unpaid board appointed by the governor and Legislature would oversee the health system. An advisory committee, consisting of doctors, nurses, consumers and other health care providers, also would guide public policy.

Lara's office has yet to explain how the state would pay for the new health care system.

Gov. Jerry Brown expressed deep skepticism about that state's ability to fund the program last week during a visit to Washington, D.C.

"This is called 'the unknown by means of the more unknown,' " he said. "In other words, you take a problem, and say 'I am going to solve it by something that's ... a bigger problem,' which makes no sense."

The state would seek waivers from the federal government for Medi-Cal, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicare, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to offset the cost of the program, Lara's office said.

California lawmakers have considered single-payer and other comprehensive health care measures over the years, all of which failed to win approval by voters, the Legislature or previous governors.

The National Nurses Association and the California Nurses Association sponsored SB 562 and Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, is a joint author. Lara also recently announced plans to run for insurance commissioner.

Lara's office said an amended version of the bill, including the new details, will become available Thursday.

Taryn Luna: 916-326-5545, @TarynLuna

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