Thread by @FightForM4A

ICYMI: The Healthy California for All Commission had another meeting last week, and a lot was discussed. Check out this thread for a quick recap of the good, the bad, and the ugly! Make sure to read the whole thread for links to get more involved! #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

For those who don't know, The Healthy California for All Commission, chaired by the Secretary of @CHHSAgency, exists to discuss options for universal health care in California. It's scheduled to deliver a report with recommendations in early 2022 #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

First was a discussion about Vermont’s attempts to implement single payer, led by @GovPeterSchumlin, which confirmed what we already knew: the resistance to single payer will be fierce even amongst Dem legislators, and it will take a mass movement to win #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

The good news is, in that conversation, @GovPeterSchumlin debunked process objections that some use as an excuse to stall state single payer legislation. Everything we need to do single payer in CA exists in current law, it just takes political will #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

The rest of the discussion focused on so-called "managed care" and "care coordination" which are often code words for allowing middlemen (ex. insurance companies or accountable care organizations) do the “managing” which = denial of care to maximize $$ #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

Care coordination should not be the responsibility of those who stand to financially gain by denying or restricting access to health care. Middlemen add nothing of value to our health care system, and the commission should acknowledge that fact #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

Single payer supporters have been attending these commission meetings en masse, encouraging commissioners to focus more of their time on actual solutions and less on half measures, as well as to model #AB1400, the only universal health care bill in the legislature #CaLeg #CalCare

The bottom line is, the commission is having the wrong conversations. We already have a blueprint for how to do single payer in CA: #AB1400, which addresses nearly all of the design questions that the commission has spent several meetings discussing #CaLeg #CalCare

Instead of wasting time pondering design Qs already addressed in #AB1400 and thinking up alternatives to single payer, this commission should propose different methods of financing the remaining revenue for single payer that can’t be recouped with federal dollars #CaLeg #CalCare

The commission should design an interactive calculator with various options for financing #AB1400, and how much each different financing mechanism would raise. This would make it easy for the public and legislators alike to weigh the pros and cons of each option #CaLeg #CalCare

We know that it isn't the policy standing between CA and single payer, it's political will. It will take a grassroots movement to win and we are committed to building that movement. Check the next few tweets in the thread out for ways YOU can get involved #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

First, we have a statewide strategy call on July 22nd, where we will talk about the sort of deep organizing it will take to win, and our plan to do that work. We hope you'll join us on the call, lots of exciting stuff to announce! bit.ly/CalCareJulyCall #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

Second, save the date for the next commission meeting on August 25th! Sign up for updates from us, we provide talking points and other support to activists looking to push a strong single payer recommendation from the commission! bit.ly/CalCareHCFAUpd… #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

We have an opportunity to use this commission to really push the legislature in the right direction, and that happens by demanding a strong single payer recommendation and a rejection of any "intermediaries" or "middlemen" in the final commission report #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare

In closing, there is a lot of work to be done to build a movement strong enough to take on for profit health care and the politicians that do their bidding. But they have money, we have the people! If we commit to this work, we WILL pass single payer in CA #CaLeg #AB1400 #CalCare