Assembly Health Committee Blasts the Federal Government for Raising Healthcare Costs for Californians

• Daniel McGreevy
• Communications Coordinator
• (916) 319-2589
• [email protected]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Today, Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), Chair of the California Assembly Health Committee, convened an informational hearing on HR 1, Donald Trump's signature "Big Bad Bill," examining how the legislation has triggered a massive federal disinvestment in California's health care system. The hearing featured expert and firsthand testimony about how federal uncertainty and attacks on health care are stripping families of coverage, inflating costs, forcing Californians to delay care, and endangering jobs and facilities statewide.

"The federal dollars which once supported health care for working families are now being funneled into mass deportation operations, operations that resulted in tragic murders by federal agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, Silverio Villegas González in Illinois, and Keith Porter here in California. This is where our health care funding is going," said Assemblymember Mia Bonta.

HR 1 cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid nationwide. For California, that means over $30 billion every single year ripped out of Medi-Cal. An estimated 3.4 million Californians are expected to lose Medi-Cal coverage. This is coupled with the failure of Republicans in Congress to extend the enhanced ACA subsidies, which has already driven premiums through the roof.

"California cannot sit idle while Trump's Congress dismantles our health system," added Assemblymember Bonta. "We have a responsibility to act decisively, and we will. California must fight to protect access, defend affordable care, and stand up for families squeezed by reckless federal decisions."

Chaz Franklin, a Colusa County Resident, Retired Teacher, Veteran, and Covered California enrollee shared his experience navigating to the committee saying, "Here's the scoop. I would be paying almost $4,000 a month in healthcare premiums for my wife and I, with a high deductible... We still must dig into our retirement till I'm eligible for Medicare, and I recognize that not everyone may have a nest egg to fall back upon. I come here to express my discontent and take outrage that Congress, including California's representatives and healthcare bureaucrats, sit idly and go, 'We are doing our best.' I am convinced that they are more interested in petty bickering about taxes, immigration, et cetera, and lining their own pockets with money, than they are about healthcare, for people like me…"

"I fully blame the federal government for what's happening with the ACA subsidies and really encourage any of our federal representatives that are listening to take heart to your story, Mr. Franklin. It's one that's not uncommon to Californians right now," said Assemblymember Dawn Addis.

"I'll note that there are no Republican members here at this hearing, I just have to say that out loud, which is unfortunate because I think that we're going to need bipartisanship to find a path forward," said Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo.

The hearing follows a six-stop statewide tour led by Assemblymember Bonta, where she heard directly from health care providers, advocates, and local leaders about the impacts they are already experiencing, and the deeper harm they are bracing for as more provisions of HR 1 go into effect. The Health of Healthcare roundtables were held in Oakland, Fresno, San José, San Diego, Santa Rosa, and Los Angeles.