CA Bills Aim to Improve Health-Care Access

By Desert Star Staff

Health

advocates

are promoting a package of bills this legislative session to make health care more accessible and affordable.

The Care 4 All California coalition, which includes more than 70 organizations, unveiled a set of 10 bills Wednesday in Sacramento.

Andrea Rivera, the senior legislative advocate for the California PanEthnic Health Network, said grassroots support could make big things happen.

“Historically, communities of color, we’re not invested in,” Rivera pointed out. “Together, we are stronger, louder, and more powerful. Together, we cannot be ignored.”

The coalition sees the bills as a series of steps toward achieving universal coverage by reducing costs and removing barriers to care.

Currently, the Affordable Care Act bars undocumented people from purchasing health coverage through the Covered California marketplace.

Asm. Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, introduced a bill to ask the feds for a waiver.

“That’s why I introduced a bill before this year that will end the unjust exclusion of our undocumented community from Covered California,” Arambula explained. “We have to create a health care system that is more universal, affordable, and equitable for all Californians.”

Asm. Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, authored Assembly Bill 1208 to eliminate deductibles and lower copays for people on Covered California Silver plans. In addition, she wrote a second bill to allow Medi-Cal to offer additional services to new mothers.

“AB 608 would expand a mother’s access to perinatal health workers who screen for postpartum depression, help with child nutrition, and provide a warm handoff to other social services,” Schiavo outlined.

Other bills in the package aim to eliminate surprise ambulance bills, require private health plans to cover things like wheelchairs when prescribed by a doctor, improve access to mental health care for youths, increase oversight of health care mergers, and improve financial transparency from medical groups.

When Mariah was two, she suffered life-threatening facial injuries. Thanks to generous LifeStream blood donors, Mariah received the blood she needed that helped save her life. Please donate. It’s easy. And you just may help to save a life.

PALM SUNDAY, OUT OF THE DESERT & INTO THE CITY OF PEACE

Sunday is Palm Sunday, the start of Passion Week. Palm Sunday biblically marks the triumphal entry of Jesus of Nazareth, coming out of the desert (time of preparation for Springtime) and entering into the city of Jerusalem (city of Peace). Palms (symbolizing peace, victory and respect) waved and placed on the ground for the young colt carrying the Christ (Pisces World Teacher) to walk upon. It was a procession, heralding the Christ as Messiah, the prophesied Promised One.

Palm Sunday tells us Lent (preparation) ends and the sacred days of Holy Week begin – unfolding a drama of cosmic proportions played out for humanity. The Christ enacts major Initiations (transformations and stages of development we all experience) for humanity. Holy Week begins with a majestic procession and ends with a trial, Crucifixion, death, a tomb and finally Resurrection. The story is a deep psychological theme of redemption and hope offered to humanity, living as we are on Earth, one of the three planets of suffering.

A new world order (esoteric words) appeared when Christ (Pisces World Teacher from the star Sirius), visited Earth. And when he died and was resurrected. He proved to humanity there is no death. Since that time, humanity has been moving steadily out of the death throes into the new era of Aquarius (new livingness for humanity). The signs are everywhere. The story of Holy Week is written in the heavens, on the Fixed Cross of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius.

During this week we are preparing for the first full moon of Spring, called the Aries Festival (next Wednesday, April 5). The Aries solar festival (at the