Healthy San Francisco Takes Next Step in Expanding Eligibility
On Tuesday, the Healthy San Francisco program expanded to city residents whose incomes do not exceed 500% of the federal poverty level, a step toward the program's goal of ensuring access to health care services for all San Francisco residents, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 2/11).
Healthy San Francisco was approved in 2006 to provide access to health care services at city clinics and public hospitals for the city's uninsured residents.
The program requires private companies with at least 20 employees and not-for-profit groups with at least 50 employees to either provide health care benefits to workers at a cost that meets minimum spending levels or contribute toward the cost of the Healthy San Francisco program.
In September 2008, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision challenging the provision of the law that mandates employer health care spending (California Healthline, 10/1/08).
Employer groups appealed the ruling (California Healthline, 11/4/08).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.