Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • beats
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    • California Dream
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Roots
    • Eclectic
    • Videos
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight
    • California State of Mind
    • The View From Here
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • Insight Music
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • CapRadio Travels
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support / Underwriting
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Volunteering
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Health Care
  •  

Single-Payer Bill Passes First Vote In California Legislature

  •  Ben Adler 
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

Supporters of creating a single-payer health care system lined up to speak at the California Senate Health Committee hearing on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

California lawmakers have given initial backing to the progressive Holy Grail of a statewide single-payer health care system. But Wednesday's Senate committee vote was largely symbolic, as even supporters acknowledge the proposal needs more work.

Hundreds of single-payer supporters – organized by the California Nurses Assocation – lined the long Capitol hallway outside the three-hour hearing.

Retired Marin County physical therapist Ruthanne Ranz-Appell says she believes everyone is entitled to health care.

“(Single-payer is) the most efficient, economical system to supply health care for everyone without paying administrators that peel off a lot of the money that we’re spending out right now,” she says.

The bill drew opposition from the health care industry and business groups.

“We agree with much of what has been said here today, and we believe there is common ground,“ says Teresa Stark with Kaiser Permanente, which is both a health care provider and insurer. “But this bill, unfortunately, is divisive and counter-productive and actually could cause harm.”

Lawmakers in both parties raised concerns over the bill’s use of a “fee-for-services” health care system.

“We’ve been moving away from fee-for-services, because they’re extremely expensive. It’s a broken system,“ says Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Fountain Valley). “I hope that this single-payer plan doesn’t get us back into that system.”

Even the Democrats who voted for the measure raised concerns over how it would work.

Backers are still working to identify a cost estimate and a funding source, and promised at least some answers by the bill's next hearing.

The bill's author, Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), acknowledged his proposal is a work in progress.

“We want to make sure we get this right,“ Lara says. “It’s going to take us time. But we also feel that sense of urgency, given such turmoil that our current health care system is in under this new administration.”

With Gov. Jerry Brown on record as skeptical about a single-payer system, and many advocacy groups more focused on preserving the Affordable Care Act, it seems unlikely that this bill will become law anytime soon.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Rendon Sparks Uproar By Shelving Single-Payer Bill

    Tuesday, June 27, 2017
    When California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced late Friday he would hold the single-payer health care bill for the year, he set off a firestorm of reactions that showcase the split in the Democratic Party.
  • Capitol Chat: Interview With Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon

    Thursday, May 4, 2017
    Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler spoke with California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon following calls to strip the University of California of its constitutional independence following a scathing audit.
  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Capitol Chat: Millions Undisclosed In UC Audit, Single-Payer Bill Passes First Hurdle

    Thursday, April 27, 2017
    Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler shares his report on the single-payer health care legislation and the state auditor's findings of undisclosed money from the University of California.

Ben Adler

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

As Newsom Pushes To Extend Emergency Spending Authority During Pandemic, Lobbyist Influence Remains Opaque

March 3, 2021

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Newsom, Lawmakers Reach Deal Incentivizing Schools To Reopen By April

March 1, 2021

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

California Will Soon Tie Reopening To Vaccination Equity Rates, Dedicate 40% Of Doses To Low-Income Communities

March 3, 2021

Most Viewed

When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? How Will I Find Out? Answers To Your California Vaccine Questions.

California Coronavirus Updates: Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Incentivizing Schools To Reopen

California Coronavirus Updates: State Lawmakers Approve $2 Billion Incentive For Schools To Reopen

California To Allow Limited Attendance At Outdoor Stadiums, Theme Parks

California To Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility To Residents With Severe Health Conditions, Disabilities

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? How Will I Find Out? Answers To Your California Vaccine Questions.

California Coronavirus Updates: Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Incentivizing Schools To Reopen

California Coronavirus Updates: State Lawmakers Approve $2 Billion Incentive For Schools To Reopen

California To Allow Limited Attendance At Outdoor Stadiums, Theme Parks

California To Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility To Residents With Severe Health Conditions, Disabilities

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2021, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.