Bill on Eliminating Medi-Cal Red Tape Passes Assembly Floor

• Annel Lopez Hailey
• Communications Director
• (916) 319-2077
• [email protected]

SACRAMENTO, CA. - Today, Assembly Bill (AB) 2201 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) passed 78 from the Assembly Floor and is headed to the State Senate. AB 2201 will streamline the Medi-Cal renewal process to help eligible Californians maintain their health coverage and avoid unnecessary terminations due to paperwork or administrative barriers. The bill reinstates several proven eligibility verification strategies that make Medi-Cal renewals more efficient for both families and counties.

"My first rule of government is not to let people die. The Trump Administration's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' is giving families across the nation, especially here in California, a big, ugly reality," stated Assemblymember Boerner. "When we take care of our families' health access, we prioritize our state's budget."

"With drastic changes coming to our state's Medicaid system, California needs to step up to protect the health and well-being of everyone in our state. The Medi-Cal Renewal Relief Act would do just that, by cutting burdensome red tape to preserve access to Medi-Cal coverage for children and families. New federal requirements from H.R. 1 could disrupt health coverage for millions, and so we must do everything we can to reduce administrative barriers to Medi-Cal access for families and children. The Children's Partnership is proud to co-sponsor AB 2201, and we are grateful the Assembly passed this bill. We look forward to working with the Senate to achieve the same outcome so we can get this impactful bill to the Governor's desk," said Lily Dorn, Policy Manager for Healthcare at The Children's Partnership.

"We are proud to see AB 2201 advance out of the Assembly at such a critical moment for the health of California communities," said Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. "As California's most vulnerable communities continue facing compounding attacks on healthcare access from H.R. 1 and state-level barriers to maintain Medi-Cal, policies like AB 2201 are critical to keep people connected to life-saving care. Changes like twice-a-year Medi-Cal renewals will create additional administrative burdens that risk pushing more Californians off coverage, including Latines who make up over half of all Medi-Cal beneficiaries. California has long led the nation in expanding healthcare access. AB 2201 is an important step toward protecting that progress, reducing unnecessary coverage losses, and ensuring communities can maintain the care they need. We look forward to continuing to work with Senate leaders to move this critical bill forward."

"AB 2201 is a smart, practical step to help keep eligible Californians connected to the Medi-Cal coverage they rely on," said Kim Lewis, Managing Director of California Advocacy at the National Health Law Program. "As federal policies create new paperwork burdens and more frequent renewals, California must do everything possible to reduce unnecessary administrative barriers that can cause people, especially children and families, to lose health care simply because of red tape. This bill restores proven renewal strategies that will help counties process cases more efficiently while protecting access to care for millions of Californians. We are proud to see AB 2201 pass out of the Assembly and look forward to continuing to support this important effort as it moves through the Legislature."

"Californians are already feeling the effects of Trump's attacks on our care, and fear is rising that more people will lose coverage or see their costs rise. AB 2201 by Assemblymember Boerner is critical now to ensure that we protect Californians as much as possible from these negative outcomes," said Christine Smith, Policy & Legislative Advocate for Health Access California, a co-sponsor of the bill. "We thank the Assembly for passing this important bill to make care easier to access in these times of uncertainty, and urge the State Senate to do the same."

"We're thrilled the Assembly unanimously passed AB 2201 to restore critical Medi-Cal renewal protections - one of California's most effective tools for keeping eligible Californians covered. At a time when H.R. 1 is creating new barriers to care, this bill will help prevent people from losing health coverage over paperwork while reducing unnecessary strain on county workers," stated Whitney Francies, Policy Advocate with the Western Center on Law & Poverty.

AB 2201 is sponsored by the Western Center on Law & Poverty, Health Access, Justice in Aging, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, National Health Law Program, and The Children's Partnership. AB 2201 is part of a larger bill package aimed at addressing the consequences of HR 1. The legislative package includes AB 2161 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, AB 2201 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, AB 2208 by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, and SB 1202 by Senator Akilah Weber-Pierson, M.D.

To view the press conference from Tuesday, May 12th, click here.

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Assemblymember Tasha Boerner represents the 77th District, which encompasses Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Coronado and the coastal communities of La Jolla south to Downtown San Diego. You can learn more about Assemblymember Boerner at a77.asmdc.org, Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky.