SACRAMENTO, December 17, 2007 – Assemblymember Curren Price (D-Inglewood) and his colleagues made history on Monday, by approving AB 1X1 which extends health coverage to millions of Californians.   “No man, woman or child, in this state should suffer due to inaccessibility of affordable health care,” said Price.  “This historic legislation provides realistic measures to ensure that occurs.”

AB 1X1 represents more than a year of planning between legislative, health, business and labor leaders.  AB 1X1 requires every California resident to have and maintain health care coverage and provides a combination of public program expansions, subsidies, tax credits and other tax breaks to make the coverage affordable.  It provides health care coverage to 5.1 million uninsured Californians, most of whom are low-income working individuals, and will cover all of the state’s 800,000 children.  This legislation is especially significant to uninsured residents in the 51st District who have experienced the closing of area hospitals and emergency rooms and are in need of more viable health care options.  

Specific provisions of the bill require that all employers meet a minimum spending requirement on health care for their workers, equal to 1-6.5% depending on the payroll of the employer.  Moreover, the state will administer a purchasing program with affordable coverage options for persons eligible for public programs and employees who do not have health coverage through their job.

Funding for AB 1X1 will come from employer and hospital fees, taxes, and a county share of the cost, which voters will have to endorse in a November 2008 ballot initiative.  “Ensuring comprehensive, quality and affordable healthcare for all Californians is our collective responsibility,” said Assemblymember Price.  “AB 1X1 is our first opportunity in this state’s history to prove how great we truly are.”  

The legislation was approved by the Assembly and will now be considered by the Senate.