Press Releases

Capitol Weekly recently published an article asking health care and state political experts for their thoughts on whether implementing a single payer health care system in California is realistic or not. Nearly all interviewed indicated that implementing a single payer system in California is not feasible nor necessary considering the strides that California has made in expanding health care coverage.

Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2024, citing an average statewide rate change of 9.6 percent. Covered California and its partnering health plans have kept the average annual rate increase over the past five years to just 3.6 percent, with Californians in the individual market benefiting from among the lowest average rate increases in the nation, Covered California said.

The California Association of Health Plans today released a statement praising the passage by the California State Assembly Budget Committee of a historic MCO tax proposal dedicating much needed funding to bolster the Medi-Cal program.

California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2023-24 state budget proposal.

CalMatters today published an opinion editorial authored by Dr. Adam Solomon, chief medical officer for the MemorialCare Medical Foundation, a physician-run health care organization.

CAHP today announced that Kate Ross has joined the CAHP team as the association’s new Director of State Programs. Ross will lead CAHP’s engagement on Medi-Cal, state and federal proposals, and policies that impact public programs and health plan operations. She will work with the Department of Health Care Services and other key stakeholders and agencies to advocate for policies and regulations that help to build and sustain California’s Medi-Cal program.

Capitol Weekly yesterday published an opinion editorial authored by Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association on Senate Bill 958 (Sen. Limón).

A new study published this week by America’s Health Insurance Plans finds that hospitals and physician offices are hiking prescription drug costs for patients by thousands of dollars for the same drugs that can be purchased at a specialty pharmacy.

CAHP today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2022-23 state budget proposal.

Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2022, citing an average statewide rate change of 1.8 percent. New expanded subsidies for Covered Californian enrollees under the American Rescue Plan have lowered premiums by an average of 50 percent for hundreds of thousands of Californians–with some paying as low as one dollar in premiums per month. California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi issued a statement on today’s announcement.

CAHP today announced that two new staff members have joined their team. Anete Millers will serve as Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ashley Kirk as Director of State Medicaid Policy.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, California Healthline has reported on how hospitals and other medical providers are charging astronomical prices for COVID-19 testing.

CAHP today applauded Governor Newsom’s selections of Mary Watanabe as Director of the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and Elizabeth Landsberg as Director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).

The California Association of Health Plans today released a statement regarding the approval of SB 855 by the California State Legislature on Sunday.

Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2021, citing an average statewide rate change of 0.6 percent, the lowest premium increase since the exchange was established in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act.

California’s health plans are stepping up in extraordinary ways to address the needs of patients and to keep the health care system strong during the Coronavirus pandemic.

CAHP today announced that two new staff members have joined their team. Amber Kemp will serve as Vice President of State Medicaid Policy and Jedd Hampton as Legislative Advocate.

CAHP today issued a statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom appointing Dr. Brad Gilbert as the director of the Department of Health Care Services.

California Association of Health Plans President & CEO Charles Bacchi today issued a statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of the 2020-21 state budget proposal.

RunawayRx calls attention to skyrocketing cost of insulin and diabetes treatments during National Diabetes Awareness Month.

September 24, 2019, Sacramento, Calif. – The first major quarterly report providing wholesale drug cost increase information on existing prescription drugs issued by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) was released and made available to the public for the first time yesterday. The report is a result of the passage of Senate Bill 17 (Hernandez) – California’s landmark drug price transparency bill that became law in 2017.

Covered California today announced preliminary health insurance rates for 2020, citing an average weighted statewide rate change of .8 percent, the lowest premium increase since the exchange was established in 2014.

The California State Assembly today passed legislation by a bipartisan vote to contain costs in the dialysis and drug treatment industries that currently result in higher health care costs for all consumers.

The California Association of Health Plans today has released a research review of a recent non-partisan nationwide study conducted by a team of Northwestern University professors which found that allowing managed care organizations (MCO’s) to administer the majority of Medicaid drug benefits, as we currently do in California, significantly reduces state spending on prescription drugs.

AB 824, a bill that would curb increasing drug prices in Californiaby allowing more generic drugs to enter thehealth caremarketplace, cleared the Assembly Health Committee this afternoon. The measure, introduced by Assembly Health Committee Chairman Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa)inpartnership with Attorney General Xavier Becerra, would prohibit “pay-for-delay” agreements where a pharmaceutical company transfers anything of value to delay a competitor’s research, marketing, or sale of a competing version of its drug.

RunawayRx today released two new infographics. One highlightskey implementation dates for California’s landmark prescription drug transparency law, SB 17, and the other revealsnew details about how prescription drug costs are impacting California health plan premiums.