Health Plans
The Senate Health Committee approved AB 2377 by Assembly member Wilma Chan (D-Oakland) (Bill history, 6/29). The bill was amended to require counties that receive state funding for health care programs to use the funds to draw down federal matching grants whenever possible. The legislation would allow counties to apply to the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board for additional funding for certain purposes until California implements a program that would provide health care coverage for all children whose families earn less than 300% of the federal poverty level. The measure would expire on Jan. 1, 2008, unless other legislation extends the program (Bill text, 6/26). The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee (Bill history, 6/29).
The Senate Health Committee approved AB 2889 by Assembly member Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) (Bill history, 6/29). The legislation was amended to allow an individual to change insurance plans without medical underwriting, as long as the person has had health care coverage for at least 18 months and enrolls in a plan with equal or greater cost sharing relative to the original health plan. The legislation previously would have expanded the definition of a federally eligible individual (Bill text, 6/26). The bill was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee (Bill status, 6/29).