Governor Gavin Newsom’s approach to universal healthcare in California has shifted significantly since his 2018 campaign promise, with single-payer legislation now unlikely to advance during his tenure, according to analysis by CalMatters.
Three years ago, Newsom signed Senate Bill 770, which directed state officials to negotiate with federal authorities to shift healthcare money currently flowing from Washington—roughly 50% of California’s total public and private medical expenditures—to the state. The bill was intended to create “a comprehensive package of medical, behavioral health, pharmaceutical, dental and vision benefits.” However, the California Nurses Association, the chief single-payer advocate, opposed the measure, calling it “a complete betrayal” of their fight for single-payer healthcare, despite Newsom’s 2018 campaign declaration: “I’m tired of politicians saying they support single-payer but that it’s too soon, too expensive or someone else’s problem.”
Instead of pursuing single-payer, Newsom championed incremental expansion of Medi-Cal. The state expanded coverage to all adult undocumented immigrants, to take effect in 2024. However, the expansion’s cost ballooned to $6.2 billion more than anticipated, and by 2025 the state was experiencing multibillion-dollar deficits, leading Newsom and the Legislature to freeze enrollment. Last month, legislative leaders blocked Assemblyman Ash Kalra’s third attempt to advance single-payer legislation, Assembly Bill 1900, without a hearing. The California Health Benefits Review Program estimated single-payer would cost $731.4 billion annually—more than three times the state’s $238 billion general fund budget—plus a $109 billion reserve fund. Meanwhile, the Legislative Analyst’s Office projects the 2 million uninsured Californians will likely double by 2030 due to federal and state cutbacks.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.noozhawk.com/dan-walters-gavin-newsom-slow-rolled-single-payer-healthcare-leaving-it-to-a-successor/