SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) today praised the Assembly floor passage of Senate Bill 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), a measure that would create a California Health Insurance Agency.

SB 840 would provide universal, comprehensive healthcare insurance to Californians while protecting consumers’ ability to choose their own doctors. Under SB 840, consumers and businesses would pay an income or payroll-based premium for a plan that includes medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, hospitalization and emergency coverage. The bill also mandates that California use its purchasing power to negotiate bulk rates for prescription drugs and medical equipment.

“California’s health care system is the very definition of a system in crisis – costs are high and options are low,” said Assemblymember Levine, who is a coauthor of the measure. “The people of the sixth largest economy in the world deserve comprehensive health benefits and much-needed relief from sky-rocketing prescription drug costs.

“California spends more than $180 billion a year on health care, and a single-payer system would lower overall spending while covering everyone by reducing massive administrative costs,” Levine added. “It is incumbent upon us to act now, in the interests of the six million plus residents of this state that do not currently enjoy access to health care.”

The bill passed the Assembly floor this afternoon on a 43-30 vote and now heads to the Governor’s desk for his consideration.