Senate Health Reform Hearing Scheduled for January 23
[Posted 01/07/08]

The Senate Health Committee has postponed its hearing to discuss the health reform proposal (AB 1X1) introduced by Assembly Speaker Fabien Nuñez and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as they await  the Legislative Analyst’s Office’s analysis of the financing initiative. The hearing is now scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, at 9 a.m. and is expected to last all day.

The $14.4 billion health reform package, passed by the state Assembly last month, would only take effect if voters also approve the financing package, which will likely be placed on the 2008 ballot. The measure would, among other things, raise the state tobacco tax to $1.75 a pack and require employers to dedicate up to 6.5 percent of their payrolls to cover employee health care or pay into a state-run insurance purchasing pool.

CMA continues to work closely with Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata to address the deficiencies of the current proposal and make needed improvements.

Contact: Dustin Corcoran, 916/444-5532 or dcorcoran@cmanet.org.