The California State Senate began its floor session today passing SB 4, the Health for All Act authored by Senator Ricardo Lara, on a bipartisan 28-11 vote. The vote marked a great step toward achieving access to health care for all Californians, regardless of immigration status.
In a press release issued shortly after the vote, Senator Lara commended his colleagues for giving members of one of the state’s most vulnerable populations a better chance to live healthy lives:
“Today’s vote is a transformational and decisive step forward on the path to achieving health for all. Over the past year I’ve worked to draft a bill that is realistic, balanced and fiscally prudent, while arriving at our goal of expanding access to health care for some of our most vulnerable communities. That’s what we’ve achieved with SB4 – allow undocumented Californians to purchase health insurance through a waiver, cover all children and establish a capped enrollment program for adults.”
The amended bill has three key features:
- Allows all kids 19 and under to enroll in Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status.
- Requires California to apply for a federal waiver that would allow undocumented immigrants to buy health insurance with their own money through Covered California.
- Establishes a capped enrollment program through Medi-Cal to expand access to adults 19 and over, regardless of immigration status.
Here are some highlights from today’s floor debate:
Senator Lara began by stating the reasons that Health for All is necessary in our communities:
#SB4 will allow us the opportunity to make transformational and decisive change on the path to achieving #Health4All
— Ricardo Lara (@ICRicardoLara) June 2, 2015
. @SenRicardoLara "Preventing immigrants from buying coverage through exchange with their own money doesn't make sense." #Health4All #SB4
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) June 2, 2015
Lara: "We are talking about our friends, our families, our neighbors. Illness doesn't care about our immigration status." #Health4All #SB4
— Health Access CA (@healthaccess) June 2, 2015
. @SenRicardoLara "Ensuring that every child in CA grows up healthy and can succeed is simply the right thing to do" #Health4All SB4
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) June 2, 2015
He was followed by a number of Senators expressing their support for the legislation, including:
Senator Andy Vidak (R – Fresno, Bakersfield)
@SenAndyVidak – Central Valley Republican just spoke in support of #Health4All kids with caps/waiting list for adults if funding avail. #SB4
— Ronald Coleman (@rcoleman413) June 2, 2015
GOP Senator Vidak says he supports #SB4! But raises issues about access, and federal inaction on immigration reform. #Health4All
— Health Access CA (@healthaccess) June 2, 2015
Senator Richard Pan (D – Sacramento)
Senator Pan: "We certainly need to make fixes to Medi-Cal.. but certainly being on Medi-Cal is better than being uninsured" #SB4 #Health4All
— Health Access CA (@healthaccess) June 2, 2015
Senator Ed Hernandez (D – West Covina)
Sen Hernandez: "Most inefficient way to provide healthcare is through emergency room. Costs state and costs to consumer" #health4all SB4
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) June 2, 2015
Senator Ben Hueso (D – Chula Vista)
Sen @BenHueso "We know migrant workers out there working long hours making sure our economy is thriving. Lifeblood of state" #health4all
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) June 2, 2015
Sen @BenHueso "People should come first in our state. They deserve health care. We can accomplish that" #health4all
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) June 2, 2015
Senator Isadore Hall (D – Los Angeles)
"We deserve to be the leader in providing for the most vulnerable in our state." @isadorehall calls out GOP 4 hypocrisy. #access #Health4All
— Gina Da Silva (@g_d_silva) June 2, 2015
Sen @isadorehall "I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting SB 4 to provide reasonable care for those without a voice" #health4all
— CPEHN (@CPEHN) June 2, 2015
And after the vote, there was much rejoicing:
HISTORIC: California Senate passes #Health4All Act with bipartisan support! #SB4 pic.twitter.com/BCJo1PGU3N
— Ricardo Lara (@ICRicardoLara) June 2, 2015