SB 810 Summary

• Establishes the California Healthcare System administered by a newly created California Healthcare Agency to provide universal health care coverage to all California residents on a single-payer basis

• Creates a Healthcare Commissioner appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation, along with supporting entities including the Healthcare Policy Board, Office of Patient Advocacy, Office of Health Planning, and Office of Health Care Quality

• Makes all California residents eligible for comprehensive health care benefits including inpatient/outpatient services, prescription drugs, mental health care, dental care, and other services, with residents earning at or below 200% of federal poverty level receiving no-cost coverage

• Establishes the California Healthcare Premium Commission to determine system costs and develop a premium structure, with recommendations due to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2013

• Prohibits private health insurance policies for services covered by the system and requires the commissioner to seek federal waivers to redirect existing Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other health care payments to the new system