During National Public Health Week, Senator Atkins’ bill to expand access to health care passes the Senate Health Committee
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 1213 and Senate Bill 1428 passed the Senate Health Committee. The bills, authored by Senate President Emeritus Toni G. Atkins Senate Bill 1213 and Senate Bill 1428, authored by Senate President Emeritus Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), expanded access to breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment programs and extended special enrollment periods for health insurance for individuals with qualifying life insurance policies. The bills passed the Senate Health Committee with a 10-0 vote. They include increasing the eligibility threshold for the Every Woman Matters (EWC) program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Care Program (BCCTP), which provides free screening and diagnostic services for eligible Californians diagnosed with breast and/or cervical cancer. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Published : 4 weeks ago by admin in Politics Health
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 1213 and Senate Bill 1428 passed the Senate Health Committee. The bills, authored by Senate President Emeritus Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), expand access to important breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment programs and extend special enrollment periods for health insurance for people with qualifying life insurance policies. events. SB 1213 and SB 1428 passed on a 10-0 vote.
“I am pleased that these two common-sense health care measures passed the Senate Health Committee with such strong bipartisan support,” said Pro Tem Emeritus Atkins. “Expanding access to early detection and timely treatment of breast and cervical cancer is critical to improving health outcomes. And ensuring that consumers have the same special enrollment periods in and out of the Covered California Health Exchange will prevent gaps in coverage. These two measures will help Californians get the health care services they need.
Senate Bill 1213 would increase the eligibility threshold for the Every Woman Matters (EWC) program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Care Program (BCCTP) from 200% of the federal poverty level ($30,120 for an individual ) at 300% ($45,180 for an individual) ). EWC provides eligible Californians with free screening and diagnostic services for breast and cervical cancer. BCCTP provides affordable treatment options to eligible low-income Californians diagnosed with breast and/or cervical cancer. Expanding eligibility for these California Department of Health programs would remove barriers to more Californians accessing breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic services and treatment without breaking the bank.
Senate Bill 1428 would ensure that individuals with certain qualifying life events have a special enrollment period that begins 60 days before the qualifying event and ends 60 days after. Covered California Health Exchange currently allows people to sign up for health insurance 60 days before most qualifying events and 60 days after. This bill codifies this practice. However, consumers who want to purchase insurance off the Exchange only have 60 days after the qualifying event. This measure updates current law to make special enrollment periods the same on and off the exchange.
Pro Tem Emeritus Atkins, who was director of a women’s health clinic early in her career, has consistently worked to improve access to health care. In 2018, Senator Atkins secured ongoing budget funding to remove BCCTP time limits for breast and cervical cancer treatments. In 2016, Senator Atkins authored AB 1795, which expands eligibility for the EWC program and ensures that BCCTP can provide treatment to patients who experience a recurrence of cancer, whether it is breast cancer or cervical cancer. Senator Atkins also supported numerous efforts to expand Medi-Cal to more Californians, including making Medi-Cal available to children and young adults up to age 25 regardless of immigration status and raising the Medi-Cal income cap for pregnant women women.
SB 1213 and SB 1428 now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Tony G. Atkins is President Emeritus of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her term in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President Emeritus Pro Tempore Tony G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins
Topics: Social Issues, Nutrition