Governor Opens Special Legislative Session on Health Care Reform
Governor Brown called an extraordinary legislative session on
health care reform yesterday, opening a legislative fast-track
for implementing policy related to the federal Affordable Care
Act (ACA) in California.
The Governor is asking the Legislature to tackle issues related
to the state’s private health coverage market, including ACA
provisions requiring guaranteed issue of coverage, pre-existing
condition exclusions, rating restrictions, and any other
regulations promulgated from the ACA. He is also asking
Legislators to work on changes to Medi-Cal, including conforming
to federal law in the areas of eligibility, enrollment, and
retention. The third topic to be addressed in the special session
concerns the creation of a safety net subsidized insurance
program, similar to the concept of a Basic Health Plan, which
would allow low-cost health coverage through the Exchange (called
Covered California) for those with income up to 200 percent of
the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
The Administration will introduce language on the individual
market and mandatory Medicaid changes during the special session.
Both houses of the Legislature are also expected to introduce
measures related to the above issues.
It is noteworthy that the Governor’s proclamation addresses
issues related to the “mandatory” expansion of Medicaid and not
the “optional” expansion of Medi-Cal to single childless adults
up to 138 percent of the FPL. The Administration has proposed two
possible models for the “optional” expansion, one administered by
the state, the other by the counties.
For background, extraordinary, or special, legislative sessions
run concurrently with the regular legislative session, and
according to the California Constitution, only those issues
outlined in the Governor’s proclamation may be introduced.
Measures passed in the special session and signed by the Governor
will take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the special
session.
