California Single Payer Movement History

CA SINGLE-PAYER MOVEMENT

2020's

2024 – AB 2200 CALCARE INTRODUCED

On February 7, 2024, California Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José), with the crucial support of California Nurses Association (CNA), introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2200, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act. AB 2200 would enact a comprehensive framework of governance, benefits, program standards, and health care cost controls for a single-payer health care coverage system in California. Also known as CalCare, passing this policy framework will allow California to begin consolidating existing health care programs, obtaining necessary federal waivers, and determining public financing. Read the bill text here.

2022 – SPOT BILL AB 1690 INTRODUCED

On February 17, 2023, AB 1690, carried by Kalra, and with the support of CNA was introduced as a spot bill to allow time for the important and necessary conversations to take place on single-payer policy. While there are principles of CalCare that CNA would never compromise on, this process would allow legislators to give feedback on the legislation while nurses and community allies organize and build power and support for CalCare. The goal; move single-payer legislation in 2024 through the legislature.

2022 – AB 1400 CALCARE PULLED

On January 6, 2022, Kalra, reintroduce AB 1400, and propose AC 11, a constitutional amendment as a means to finance AB 1400. On January 31, the last day the bill could be voted on the Assembly floor, Kalra surprisingly pulled AB 1400.

2021 – AB 1400 CALCARE

In February of 2021, AB1400 (aka CalCare) was introduced by Assembly member Ash Kalra. Based on concerns raised by assembly members over the absence of details about funding, on April 21 Kalra placed AB 1400 on hold. Read the bill text here.

2010's

2019 – SENATOR MIKE MCGUIRE FAILS TO REINTRODUCE SB 562

Senator Mike McGuire withdraws his commitment to re-introduce SB562 just before the deadline.

2018 – SENATOR MIKE MCGUIRE (SD 2) AGREES TO REINTRODUCE SB 562

Senator Mike McGuire (SD 2) agrees to author the re-introduction of SB 562 in 2019 at the request of CA Nurses Association.

2017 – SB 562

Amid momentum in Washington to repeal Obamacare, Senators Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) co-author SB 562: The Healthy California Act.

In April, SB 562 passed the Senate committees of Health and Appropriations. In May, the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) released the financial analysis showing $37 billion in savings to the state, while covering all residents for comprehensive care. On June 1st, SB 562 passed the Senate. Three weeks later, Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon (AD 63) blocks the bill from advancing out of the Assembly Rules Committee. Rendon called SB 562 ”woefully incomplete” while rendering it inactive and incapable of amendments despite co-author legislators’ stateing willingness to work on amendments. Read the bill text here.

2014 – COVERED CALIFORNIA HEALTH POLICIES BEGIN COVERAGE

2013 – COVERED CALIFORNIA FIRST OPEN ENROLLMENT

2013 – FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, NO SINGLE PAYER BILL INTRODUCED

Former co-authors decline to introduce a bill. The 2013-2014 Legislative Session begins without single payer legislation for the first time in a decade.

2012 – SB 810 FAILS

In January, The Senate Appropriations Committee passed SB 810. It failed on the Senate floor by two votes. It needed 21 votes and received 19. Two Senate Democrats Ron Calderon (SD 34) and Lou Correa (SD 34 and currently CD 46) voted against it, and four Senate Democrats abstained; Alex Padilla (SD 20, currently CA Senator), Michael Rubio (SD 16) , Juan Vargas (SD 40), and Rod Wright (SD 35).

In September, CNA announces that it does not support the introduction of a single payer bill in the coming 2013-2014 Legislative Session.

In November, the Democrats attain super majorities in the Assembly and the Senate.

2011 – SB 810

Sen. Mark Leno re-introduces SB 810 with 35 co-authors (12 senators and 23 Assemblymembers). Read the bill text here.

2010 – PATIENT PROTECTION & AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

2000's

2009 – SENATOR MARK LENO INTRODUCES SB 810

Sen. Mark Leno ( SD 11) introduceS SB 810, which retains the language of SB 840. There are 47 coauthors ( 15 senators and 32 assemblymembers). It passes the Senate, Assembly Health and Appropriations Committees. Some Assembly Members (including a couple elected with the help of single-payer activists) successfully lobby Speaker John Pérez to not bring SB 810 to a floor vote. The bill dies.

2008 – RETURN OF SB 840

Senator Kuehl bought back an amended version of the universal single-payer bill, only to have it vetoed again by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

2006 – SB 840

Senator Sheila Keuhl made another attempt to bring a universal single-payer health care system to the state. This one made it further than any other attempts, passing both houses of the legislature. It was then vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Read the bill text here.

2003 – SB 921

Senator Sheila Keuhl introduced a bill to create a universal health care system for California. It was the first in a series of health bills she would move through the legislature. It passed the senate and later died in committee. Read the bill text here.

2002 – H.C.O. PROJECT DETERMINE SINGLE PAYER MOST COST-EFFECTIVE

Analysts concluded that the single-payer plans were the most cost-efficient, while providing universal coverage with the best benefits and the highest health quality outcomes.

2000 – CA RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CARE OPTIONS PROJECT

California received federal funding ($1.2 million) for a Health Care Options Project. Three single payer and six incremental proposals were analyzed.

1990's

1999 – SB 480

A state-sponsored study of ways to achieve universal health care, passed the legislature and was signed by Gov. Gray Davis.

1998 – SB 2123

Senator Diane Watson, chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, co-authored SB 2123 to have the Legislative Analyst’s Office investigate financing options for a universal single-payer health system for the state. It died in committee.

1994 – PROP 186

California voters soundly defeated Prop 186, which would have created a single-payer health plan for California. The California Nurses Association was integral in pushing for the initiative, which would have replaced the exisiting system of health insurance programs.

1992 – SB 308

SB 308 was similar to SB 2868. Petris succeeded in getting the bill through both houses of the legislature, but it died because the state Senate rejected the Assembly’s amendments.

1992 – GOV. JERRY BROWN MENTIONS SINGLE PAYER IN DEM PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

In 1992, Gov. Jerry Brown made a bid for president. During a Democratic primary debate, he said, “I believe the only health care system that makes any sense is a single-payer system, similar to what has been adopted in Canada.”

1990 – SB 2868

Senator Nicholas Petris made the first of two similar bids to create single-payer health care. It would have used General Fund appropriations to pay doctors rates similar to Medicare reimbursement. SB 2868 died in committee.

1970's

1972 – SB 770

The Consumer Protection Act of 1972 would have created a universal single-payer health plan for California. It called for no deductibles, co-payments, or limits. The funding mechanism would have used a mixed of property, payroll, and income taxes. It died in committee.

1971 – AB 2860

The Health Insurance Act proposed a single-payer state-run system financed by a combination of a personal income tax and a payroll tax. It included a plan to request a waiver to use federal Medicaid and Medicare funding to help pay for the state program. It died in committee.

1960's

1961 – REGAN SPEAKS AGAINST MEDICARE

As Washington considered plans to create Medicare, then-actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech encouraging Americans to write their Congressmen to reject the plan. Reagan described Medicare as a step towards socialism.

1950's

1951 – GOVERNOR WARREN ENCOURAGES LEGISLATURE TO ACT

In his inaugural address, Gov. Warren encouraged the legislature to create its own bill to create universal health coverage in California.

1940's

1949 – SB 863

Assemblyman George Collins presented AB 863 on behalf of Governor Warren. It would have created a single-payer prepaid health plan. This is the fourth push the governor made for health care in the legislature. It died in committee.

1944 – SB 800

Earl Warren served as California governor from 1942-1953. In that time, he made several pushes for health care reform in the state, including universal health care. The first (AB 800, Wollenberg) was a single-payer fee-for-service system that would be funded by a payroll tax. It died in committee.