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“Governor Newsom’s budget proposal to expand health care coverage to all income-eligible adults ages 26-49 regardless of immigration status is the final step needed to ensure that California becomes the first state in the nation to achieve universal health care coverage,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “Delivering coverage for all will ensure every Californian has access to life-saving health care services.”
“Hospitals also look forward to continuing the important policy discussions surrounding the creation of the Office of Health Care Affordability,” Coyle said. “We all agree that addressing the underlying drivers of health care costs and improving the affordability of care is of vital importance to all Californians.”
“With regard to the current pandemic surge, the Governor’s $2.7 billion COVID Emergency Response Package is essential to helping hospitals and other providers respond to the record number of patients,” Coyle said. “This funding will help ensure that providers have the supplies and staffing necessary to care for all those affected by COVID-19.”
“Finally, given the unprecedented workforce challenges facing the state’s entire health care system, we support the workforce expansion proposals, especially those focused on workers providing care, included in the governor’s budget proposal,” Coyle said. “The health care field is facing a severe shortage of nurses, doctors, and other critical health care workers that will span years, if not decades. We urge state leaders to invest resources to help rebuild our depleted health care workforce.”
