Push for Single-Payer Health Care in California Returns to State Senate
On Wednesday, Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced legislation (SB 810) that would create a state-run, single-payer health insurance system in California, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
The bill is modeled after legislation lawmakers approved previously and vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) (Ferriss, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 3/11).
Leno says businesses and workers would contribute to the system, which would subsidize care for low-income California residents and people with disabilities (Weiss, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 3/11).
Lisa Page, a spokesperson for the governor, said Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill last year because of cost concerns, but she added that the governor is committed to "cost-effective ways" to overhaul the health care system ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 3/11). 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.