Press Releases Archive

CAHP Statement: CAHP Joins California Health Care Community In Joint Media Statement Opposing ACA Ruling

If one can take a moment to make their way through the partisanship, the politics, and the perceptions (right or wrong), the Affordable Care Act is really about just one thing: people.

CAHP Statement: Federal Court Ruling Striking Down ACA

CAHP President and CEO Charles Bacchi made a statement regarding the District Court decision in TX v. United States of America on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

CAHP Statement: Renewed SB 17 Lawsuit Signals PhRMA’s Continued Unwillingness to Acknowledge Their Outsized Role in the High-Priced Drug Crisis

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has re-filed its lawsuit against SB 17, California’s drug price transparency legislation. PhRMA’s action comes just one month after a federal judge dismissed the organization’s previous lawsuit and offers a clear sign that the group intends to continue its efforts to keep patients in the dark about prescription drug pricing.

CAHP Statement: SB 1156 Supporters Undeterred by Governor’s Decision to Veto Bill

A broad coalition of concerned consumer, labor, and health care groups today expressed their disappointment in Governor Brown’s decision to veto SB 1156 — a bill that would have discouraged certain dialysis providers and loosely regulated residential treatment centers throughout California from inappropriately shifting patients into commercial coverage in order to receive higher reimbursements for inflated and unnecessary medical claims. This practice has been particularly harmful to vulnerable individuals suffering from opioid addiction and kidney disease.

CAHP Statement: California Association of Health Plans President & CEO Releases Statement on 2019 Individual Market Rates

Covered California today announced health insurance rates for 2019, citing an average weighted statewide rate change of 8.7% as the exchange moves into its sixth year of operation. The rates reflect the ongoing changes to the Affordable Care Act at the federal level, particularly the decision to repeal the requirement to purchase health insurance coverage, as well as continued increased spending on medical care and several other factors.

CAHP Statement: The California Association of Health Plans Announces New Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs

The California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) today announced that Stephanie Shirkey has joined its staff as Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs. She will manage CAHP’s regulatory efforts with the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and other stakeholders on behalf of CAHP’s 48 full-service health plans.

In Case You Missed It - Politico: New Jersey Will Become Second State to Enact Individual Health Insurance Mandate

A May 30 Politico article by Katie Jennings reports that New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed into law a bill that will require all New Jerseyans to have health insurance. The new law reinstates the individual mandate beginning Jan. 1, 2019. The federal government repealed the mandate late last year and it officially expires in 2019.

CAHP Statement: California’s Uninsured Expected to Increase by 500,000 to 1.2 Million Without Coverage Requirement: CAHP Urges Support for Coverage Requirement and Increased Subsidies

During today’s Covered California Board meeting, analyses provided by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) and UCLA/UC Berkeley CalSIM show that the number of California’s uninsured is estimated to increase by 500,000 to 1.2 million. This is due to the federal government’s decision last year to eliminate the individual mandate to buy health insurance and to halt Cost Sharing Reductions (CSR’s) for low income individuals and families.

CAHP Statement: Drug Price Transparency Legislation Sweeping Across The Nation, Post-SB 17

California’s 2017 passage of first-of-its-kind prescription drug price transparency legislation in the United States ushered in a new era of public reporting on egregious prescription drug price hikes – and other states are following suit.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Launches ‘We Bring’ Campaign

CAHP today launches the “We Bring” education campaign to raise awareness about how health plans are serving a critical role in the state’s health care system and driving satisfaction for their members.

In Case You Missed It - Asbury Park Press: New Jersey Lawmakers Approve Health Insurance Mandate

On April 12, 2018, the New Jersey legislature approved legislation to require all New Jerseyans to have health insurance. The bill, if signed by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, would reinstate the individual mandate that the federal government repealed late last year. That federal mandate will officially expire in 2019. Other states are also considering legislation to enact state-level individual mandates.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Names New Vice President of State Programs

CAHP today announced Wendy Soe’s promotion to Vice President of State Programs. Ms. Soe will lead CAHP’s advocacy efforts related to government health coverage programs.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Supports Enacting a State-Based Individual Mandate

In the wake of the federal government’s November, 2017 decision to eliminate the individual mandate to buy health insurance effective in January, 2019, the California Association of Health Plans is urging state leaders to enact a state-based individual mandate as a way to stabilize California’s health care marketplace and protect the significant gains California has made under the Affordable Care Act.

CAHP Statement: Major Single Payer Implementation Challenges Raised During Assembly Hearing

The Assembly Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage held its latest hearing on February 5 highlighting the very real and significant obstacles to establishing a single payer health care system in California. Expert witnesses provided key testimony that highlighted how implementing a single payer system could be difficult to achieve. The select committee heard from experts on Proposition 98, the “Gann Limit,” the Medicare Trust Fund, ‘ERISA’ and other federal law considerations.

CAHP Statement: PhRMA SB 17 Litigation

As part of its usual obstructionist playbook, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today filed a lawsuit challenging California’s recently-passed drug pricing transparency law, SB 17.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Issues Statement on State Assembly’s Universal Health Care Hearings

Today, California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi released the following statement regarding the State Assembly Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage Hearings that took place on October 23 and 24.

CAHP Statement: Trump Administration's Decision to End CSR Benefits for Low-To-Middle Income Individuals and Families

California Association of Health Plans President and CEO Charles Bacchi released the following statement today regarding the Trump administration’s decision to end cost sharing reduction (CSR) benefits.

CAHP Statement: 2018 Covered California Rate Release

Covered California today announced the final rates for its health plans in 2018 noting that, in the absence of a federal commitment to fund cost-sharing reduction (CSR) reimbursements for the upcoming year, it will be adding an average surcharge of 12.4 percent to Silver-tier plans in 2018. The surcharge will only be applied to Silver-tier plans and, as such, most enrollees’ premiums will not be affected by the surcharge.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Applauds Governor Brown’s Signing of Landmark Prescription Drug Price Transparency Bill into Law

The California Association of Health Plans today applauded California Governor Jerry Brown’s signing of the groundbreaking SB 17 (Hernandez) into law. This pivotal moment marks a major victory for patients, healthcare providers and local governments alike in the battle to rein in spiraling prescription drug prices. The Governor’s signature on the bill comes after several years of united efforts from a broad coalition of health plans, labor unions, patient advocacy groups, business organizations and dozens of others, with two similarly-targeted efforts stalling in the legislature in 2015 and 2016.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Urges Congress to Oppose Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Proposal

The California Association of Health Plans today sent a letter to the California congressional delegation opposing the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal, which makes major changes to the Affordable Care Act that will result in adverse consequences for Californians and people across the country.

CAHP Statement: Senate Approves SB 17, Sends Crucial Rx Transparency Bill to Governor’s Desk for Final Consideration

The California State Senate minutes ago joined the Assembly in voting to advance SB 17 (Hernandez), marking a crucial milestone that will advance the prescription drug price transparency bill to the Governor’s desk. The Senate advanced the bill on a 31-8 vote, a strong showing of support that comes on the heels of the Assembly’s overwhelming 66-9 bipartisan vote to advance the bill on Monday.

CAHP Statement: Assembly Passes SB 17 Marking Major Milestone for Fight to Bring Drug Price Transparency to California

The California State Assembly moments ago passed SB 17 (Hernandez) on a bipartisan 66 – 9 vote, sending the bill to the Senate floor for concurrence before moving on to the Governor’s desk. With today’s passage through the Assembly, California moves closer than ever to holding pharmaceutical companies accountable and reining in arbitrary drug price hikes that harm California families.

CAHP Statement: 2018 Covered California Rates

Covered California today announced health insurance rates for 2018, citing an average weighted statewide rate change of 12.5% as the exchange moves into its fifth year of operation. The rates reflect the ongoing uncertainty at the federal level over the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as increased spending on medical care and several other factors.

CAHP Statement: CA Assembly Health Committee Advances Crucial Drug Price Transparency Bill

The California Assembly Health Committee today voted to advance SB 17 (Hernandez), marking a crucial milestone in the fight to rein in out-of-control prescription drug pricing. The bill now heads to the California Assembly Appropriations Committee where it will be up for a vote in August.

CAHP Statement: $400 Billion Single-Payer Health Care Bill Passes Senate

The California State Senate today approved SB 562 (Lara) SB 562, which was passed without a funding plan, and would establish a government-run, single-payer health care system in California that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

CAHP Statement: CAHP Names New Vice President of Communications

The California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) today announced that Mary Ellen Grant has joined its staff as Vice President of Communications. She will lead communications efforts on behalf of the 49 full-service health plans CAHP represents.

CAHP Statement: California Senate Votes on Widely-Supported Drug Price Transparency Bill

The California State Senate Committee on Health is set to vote today on SB 17, which responds to growing concerns over the impacts of drug companies’ efforts to push the limits on prescription drug prices that have left California families and state programs grappling with the realities of six-figure price tags for common medications.

CAHP Statement: Health Plans Statement on SB 17 (Hernandez)

State Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) was joined by consumer advocates, labor representatives and other California leaders today as he introduced SB 17, which will bring much-needed transparency to prescription drug pricing. The introduction of SB 17 marks the third time in three years that California legislators have pushed to shine a light on how the pharmaceutical industry prices its products.

CAHP Statement: Response to State Budget Proposal

In his proposed budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, Governor Brown proposes elimination of the pilot project known as the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI), which coordinates a range of health care, home and community supports through managed care plans in seven counties. However, some components of the CCI are extended, including coordinated care through Cal MediConnect, integrating long-term services and supports into managed care, as well as mandatory enrollment of dual eligibles.