Newsom firma ley de salud universal apoyada por NUHW
El Gobernador Newsom firmó en ley la SB 770, una propuesta de salud universal respaldada por NUHW que pondría a California en el camino a construir un sistema de salud estilo Medicare para Todos.
NUHW ayudó a liderar la medida, presentada por los Senadores Estatales Scott Wiener y Mike McGuire, a través de su liderazgo en Healthy California Now, la coalición estatal más grande de grupos que respaldan el sistema de salud de pagador único.
“Con esta firma, California toma un paso histórico hacia el cuidado de salud universal”, dijo el Senador Wiener en un comunicado que citó Los Angeles Times. “El estado ahora comenzará a responder la pregunta compleja de cómo podemos tener acceso al financiamiento federal para costear un sistema de atención médica universal de tipo pagador único”.
Michael Lighty, el representante de NUHW en la junta ejecutiva de Healthy California Now y el presidente de la organización, se refirió a la nueva ley como “un paso parteaguas hacia garantizar el cuidado médico de gran calidad para todos los californianos”.
Lo que hará la ley
La SB 770 avanza el trabajo de la Comisión
the work of Gov. Newsom’s Healthy California For All Commission, which found that transitioning to a healthcare system envisioned by the bill would avert 4,000 deaths per year, and save Californians $158 billion per year in healthcare spending by 2031.
Newsom’s commission concluded that a unified financing system, which could include a single-payer, Medicare for All-style system, would:
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Guarantee all California residents a comprehensive package of healthcare benefits including behavioral health care, and potentially long-term care and support services.
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Eliminate disparities between Medicare, Medi-Cal, employer-sponsored insurance, and individual market coverage.
To put the commission’s recommendations into action, SB 770 directs California’s Secretary of Health and Human Services to pursue discussions with federal authorities regarding the potential terms of waivers necessary for California to secure its full share of federal healthcare funds for the new system. The agency would be required to:
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Present a detailed draft report for legislative review and public comment by June 1, 2025, and
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Publish a final plan by November 1, 2025 so that it could move forward with formal federal waiver applications in early 2026.
Broad Coalition
SB 770 is backed by a broad coalition of healthcare advocates, labor unions and community-based organizations representing seniors, low-income Californians, and immigrant communities. In addition to NUHW, the coalition members includes Health Access California, Western Center on Law and Poverty, California Academy of Family Physicians, California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, UNITE HERE, California Federation of Teachers, SEIU California, California Conference of Machinists, and the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council.
“The passage of SB 770 is an important milestone in the fight for transformational healthcare reform,” NUHW President Sal Rosselli said. “Our current healthcare system is much too fragmented and expensive, putting potentially life-saving care out of reach for too many Californians. We’re excited to continue working with our allies to build an ethical healthcare system that covers everyone and eliminates the wasteful spending that harms patients and workers.”