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Affirming their commitment to ensure every California citizen has access to the quality health care they deserve to lead healthy lives, Assembly Republicans have introduced several health care reform measures that will maximize choice, reduce cost and increase access to care for Californians – without costly new mandates, tax hikes or government programs.

Maximizing Choice

Giving Californians the Freedom to Choose Health Savings Accounts - Updating California’s outdated tax laws will enable workers and small businesses to choose these affordable plans that have lowered costs in 46 other states. Under health savings accounts, individuals or employers contribute every month to tax-free accounts that build up over time, and can be used by individuals to purchase health care services that meet their needs. (Assembly Bill 84, by Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, MD, R-Lodi, Assembly Bill 245, by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine and Assembly Bill 989, by Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad)

Offering More Health Plan Choices for CalPERS Members. - Offering health savings accounts and high-deductible health plans to CalPERS members will give them another affordable choice that puts them in the driver’s seat when it comes to their own health care decision making. (Assembly Bill 1377, by Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, MD, R-Lodi)

Empowering Medi-Cal Patients to Make Their Own Health Care Decisions - Enabling Medi-Cal patients the option to voluntarily receive their benefits through health savings accounts will put them in charge of their own health care decision-making and lower costs for taxpayers. (Assembly Bill 1635, by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark)

Allowing Individuals to Choose Their Own Health Insurance Benefits - By giving individuals and businesses, not Sacramento politicians, the power to decide what benefits are included in their health plans, Californians will receive coverage tailored to their individual health needs that fit within the confines of their budgets. (Assembly Bill 1214, by Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands)

Providing More Affordable Health Care Choices by Expanding Competition - Allowing out-of-state insurers to offer health benefit plans to Californians and allowing in-state insurers to also offer the health benefit plans will enable individuals and business owners to purchase high quality medical coverage at lower prices through more competition and greater choice. (Assembly Bill 1644, by Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks)

Expanding Coverage Options for the Working Uninsured - Providing tax relief to employers who newly offer health insurance to their employees in the form of a High Deductible Health Plan will help make coverage more affordable for thousands of working Californians, and empower them to make their own health care decisions. (Assembly Bill 85, by Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, MD, R-Lodi)

Reducing Cost

Making Coverage More Affordable by Creating a California Health Insurance Exchange - Scrapping penalties for individuals purchasing private health insurance outside their employer will enable uninsured workers to buy their own plan at a lower price. Allowing workers to buy their own policies from a new state health insurance exchange will reduce costs for them and guarantee coverage, even when changing jobs. (Assembly Bill 1072, by Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville)

Creating a Single Group Health and Workers’ Compensation Policy - Providing employers who cover their workers with group health insurance coverage the opportunity to purchase a single policy that combines health benefits and workers’ compensation coverage gives employers another choice that will lower costs. (Assembly Bill 1619, by Assemblyman John J. Benoit, R-Palm Desert)

Lowering Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs - Expanding state tax deductions for health care, dental and vision expenses will make health care more affordable for Californians, especially those who have no coverage through their employers. (Assembly Bill 1040, by Assemblyman Mike Duvall, R-Yorba Linda)

Increasing Access

Ensuring More Convenient Care at Neighborhood Health Clinics - Eliminating the barriers in state law that prohibit establishing additional walk-in, neighborhood health clinics will enable California families to access more convenient health clinics at pharmacies, grocery stores and shopping malls in their communities. (Assembly Bill 1643, by Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks)

Raising Medi-Cal Reimbursement Rates for Doctors - Providing higher reimbursement rates for doctors who treat Medi-Cal patients will ensure access to quality care continues to be available for the elderly and less-fortunate who rely on Medi-Cal to receive basic health services. (Assembly Bill 1312, by Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Redlands)

Encouraging More Doctors to Provide Charity Care - Creating a new tax credit for doctors who provide services to the uninsured and underinsured will pave the way for more health professionals to perform no-cost charity care for those who would otherwise be unable to afford basic health care. (Assembly Bill 1592, by Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar)

Increasing the Number of Well-Trained Nurses - Requiring community colleges to use merit-based admissions policies for nursing education programs and expanding these programs at state colleges and universities will ensure that there is always an expanding pool of qualified registered nurses to serve the changing health needs of California’s diverse and growing population. (Assembly Bill 1559, by Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, R-Modesto)

Guaranteeing Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions - Allowing Californians who are unable to obtain private health insurance due to pre-existing medical conditions the opportunity to purchase a health plan will give them peace of mind that they will not be forced to go into financial ruin just to afford live-saving treatments. (Assembly Bill 1378, by Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, MD, R-Lodi)

Boosting Resources for Medical Clinics Serving the Poor - Reforming state law to require foundations created by the conversions of nonprofit hospitals and HMOs to spend 90 percent of their investment income on care at medical clinics will ensure that these health facilities will have more funds to provide health services for the less fortunate. (Assembly Bill 1572, by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine)

Prioritizing Seismic Upgrades of Hospitals Based on Structural Condition - By utilizing science-based reforms to ensure seismic retrofitting of California’s hospitals is performed on a worst-first basis, critical health facilities can be strengthened before the “big one” strikes, to ensure vital health services will always be available. (Assembly Bill 1304, by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita)

Republican Senate Health Care Bills

You can view the California State Senate Republican Bills here