| |
California
A coalition of California groups has launched the 100 Percent Campaign, a multi-year effort to make sure all kids in California have access to health care. Also, Health Access is pursuing a number of strategies to expand coverage in California by building on the employer-based system, including efforts to support new versions of SB 2/Proposition 72, which was defeated in November by a razor-thin margin. |
| |
Colorado
The state's Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform (also known as the "208 Commission") was established during the 2006 legislative session and is required to make comprehensive health care reform recommendations to the state by January 2008. The commission received 19 comprehensive proposals from the public and will select three to five of the proposals submitted for further evaluation. The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative submitted Connecting Care and Health in Colorado, a comprehensive proposal written with collaborative technical assistance from Families USA and Community Catalyst, to the commission in Spring 2007. Click here for a fact sheet on the proposal. Click here for a technical summary. |
| |
Illinois
Health Care Justice Campaign. Click here to see how the Campaign for Better Health Care is working to bring about accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare in Illinois.
Press Release: Governor Blagojevich's Legislation to Provide Health Coverage to All Children in Illinois is Historic First (December 12, 2005)
Statement: Governor Blagojevich's "All Kids" Plan Approved by Illinois Legislature (October 28, 2005)
Good for Kids, Good for the Economy: Health Coverage for All Kids in Illinois: A discussion of how Governor Blagojevich's All Kids proposal would expand health coverage for the state's children while helping the economy, bringing federal dollars to the state and generating significant economic activity. (October 2005)
|
| |
|
Maine
Maine’s Dirigo Health Plan, the first universal access to health coverage program in the continental United States, is coming under heavy fire from the insurance industry and conservative interests. For the latest developments, or to make a contribution to help Consumers for Affordable Health Care preserve and advance Dirigo, go to www.mainecahc.org.
The Dirigo Health Reform Act was signed into law by Maine Governor John Baldacci in June 2003. The Act was designed to ensure that every Mainer has access to affordable, quality health care by 2009. The Dirigo Health Reform Web site provides an excellent resource of information on the Act and on DirigoChoice, Maine's new health care program for small business employees, the self-employed, and the uninsured. The Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance has released Myths vs Facts on Dirigo Health Reform and a chart showing the number of businesses and members enrolled in DirigoChoice by town.
|
| |
|
Maryland
Besides their innovative legislation to require the largest employers (e.g., Wal-Mart) to provide insurance to workers, Maryland Citizens Health Initiatives has several initiatives underway to help the uninsured.
Maryland Legislature Overrides Veto on Wal-Mart Bill: The General Assembly voted to override the governor's veto of "Fair Share" legislation. For more information, see www.healthcareforall.com. (1/13/06)
|
| |
|
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Health Reform Tracking Survey finds that prior to the July 1 implementation of comprehensive health reform, most Massachusetts residents supported a new state law to provide health coverage to almost all residents, including the individual mandate that requires residents to obtain coverage or pay a penalty. (June 2007)
Confronting Disparities while Reforming Health Care: A Look at Massachusetts examines how state advocates were able to build on expansion efforts and address the host of issues that affect disparities in health and health care. Includes an extensive discussion of lessons that can be learned from the Massachusetts experience. (June 2007)
A number of health access budget provisions approved by the Conference Committee have been rejected by Governor Romney. Advocates have been getting the word out and building support for eventual veto overrides. Click here to see how the programs most important to your clients fared and how you can continue to support them.
Health Care for All is promoting the ACT! Plan to expand access to affordable health coverage to every person in Massachusetts, control health care costs, and improve health care quality and public health.
|
| |
New York
Advocates in New York are pushing for adoption of the NYC Health Care Security Act, which would require certain employers to offer workers coverage equivalent to other businesses in their industry or pay into a citywide fund that would provide it. |
| |
Ohio
Join people of faith to support the Congressional Health Care Access Resolution. Click here for more info. |
| |
Washington, DC
A bill has been introduced in the Washington, DC city council that would expand health coverage for children in low-income families and make insurance more affordable for those who work for small businesses. Families USA’s Comments on the Expansion Bill | Chart Comparing New York and DC Expansion Plans (November 17, 2005) |
| |
|
Wisconsin
Healthy Wisconsin: Good Medicine for Wisconsin’s Economy analyzes the economic benefits that will accrue to Wisconsin if the state enacts the “Healthy Wisconsin” proposal, which is part of the Senate’s Biennial Budget Bill, now pending in the legislature. Building on the proposed expansion of BadgerCare Plus (see below), Healthy Wisconsin is designed to provide comprehensive, high-quality health coverage to everyone in the state. (July 2007)
Wisconsin's 2007 Health Care Proposal: BadgerCare Plus is a thorough examination of the BadgerCare Plus proposal to expand health coverage. The report discusses who would be eligible, how much enrollees would pay, what benefits enrollees would receive, and how the expansion would be financed. (July 2007)
|
| |
Other Resources
Vermont's Health Reform Laws discusses the basics of the state's two new laws, known as "Catamount Health." The piece also examines how Catamount Health will be financed, how the laws build on existing health coverage programs, and pros and cons of the laws. (December 2006) [Families USA]
Health Insurance for All: What We Can Learn from Massachusetts argues that Massachusetts’ new law offers lessons for every state. (May 2006) [The Commonwealth Fund]
Roadmap to Coverage: Synthesis of Findings combines all of the research and analytic work done on the Massachusetts health coverage initiative, describes three policy approaches that would achieve universal coverage in the Commonwealth, and discusses the issues that would need to be addressed in order to implement the Roadmap options. (May 2006) [Urban Institute]
Massachusetts Health Reform: What It Does; How It Was Done; Challenges Ahead provides a comprehensive description of the Massachusetts health coverage plan, including an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. (April 2006) [Community Catalyst]
Massachusetts has enacted a health care plan designed to offer virtually universal health coverage. Massachusetts Health Care Reform Plan summarizes the new plan and its implications for individuals, who must obtain insurance or face tax penalties, as well as employers, who must provide insurance or contribute to the government’s “Fair Share” program. (April 2006) [Kaiser Family Foundation]
Ideas that Work: Expanding Health Coverage for Workers, a Tool Kit for those who want to build a state-based health coverage initiative based on employer-provided insurance. Includes case studies of California and Hawaii, a "decision guide," and tables with state-by-state data about employment and insurance coverage. (October 2004) [Families USA]
|
For the State Information homepage, click here.
For State Information: Across the States, click here.
For State Information: Medicaid & Children's Health, click here.
For State Information: Medicare & Rx Drugs, click here.
For State Information: Related Links, click here.
|
[Return to top]
[Return to top]
