A new bill introduced in the California State Senate aims to lay the foundations for a universal state health system,

to suggest

a step-by-step approach that differs from recent sweeping and failed attempts to reshape the way Californians receive care.

Under the measure of state senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), California would begin the process of seeking an exemption from the federal government to allow Medicaid and Medicare funds to be used for a first-in -the nation’s single-payer healthcare system.

In the wake of the devastation of COVID-19, and with costs for working people skyrocketing, the need to provide affordable health care to all Californians has never been greater. Wiener said in a statement. He praised his move as making “tangible steps on a concrete timeline toward achieving universal and more affordable health care in California.”

The legislation requires the California Secretary of Health to make recommendations before June 1, 2024 on how to draft the federal exemption.

Proponents say single-payer health care would cover every California resident and be funded entirely with state funds (including recycled federal dollars)

and the federal funds available under the waiver, right?

is more efficient than our current system, in which available care and costs depend on whether a person has private insurance, is enrolled in a public plan such as Medi-Cal, or is uninsured.

Universal health care is a top priority for progressives who have gathered around the

Medicare for All “Medicare for All”

plan championed by Senator Bernie Sanders

(I-Vermont) (I-Vt.)

during his two presidential runs. A 2017 California bill to introduce a single-payer system passed the Senate, but was shelved by Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon

(D-Lakewood).

The setback provoked the left wing of the Democratic party,

who which

saw single payer as a litmus test for political candidates, and Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced the cause during his 2018 campaign.

On his first day in office in 2019, Newsom asked Congress and the White House, then occupied by President Trump, to change federal laws that would allow California to pursue a single-payer system.

But Newsom has been more focused on expanding coverage in California for people living in the country illegally.

Meanwhile, his 2019 budget created a committee to examine steps toward a universal health care system; that panel has his

final report

last year He Newsom

declined to comment on the latest major legislative move for one payer, a bill from Councilman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose). That measure was abruptly withdrawn by Kalra last year after fellow Democrats objected to the price tag, which ranged from

at estimated

$341 billion and $391 billion.

The primary

proponent

by

a

single payer

system

, the California Nurses Assn., berated Kalra for refusing to put the bill to a vote on the House floor. But they’re teaming up with Kalra again this year for a renewed effort to implement a universal health care system, which they called CalCare.

Kalra’s bill contains few details at this point, suggesting that the bill’s sponsors expect an extensive campaign to garner support from legislators and grassroots activists alike. The nurses’ union is sponsoring 45 events across California this weekend to rally support

they are

attempt.

Wiener’s legislation takes a much more modest approach, focusing solely on the federal waiver process. Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers and a supporter of the bill, said this approach reflects lessons learned from the failure of two hotly contested

–

contested, more extensive measures.

“From my point of view, this is not controversial at all,” said Rosselli. “Our governor, the administration, the senate, the assembly, the majority of our elected leaders support this system to improve our healthcare system.”

Still, he acknowledged that fierce opponents of single payer, largely the big health interests, think otherwise.

“I don’t expect the industry to support this at any level,” he said.

Preston Young, a policy attorney for the California Chamber of Commerce, said the business group was hesitant about the plan. “Regardless of the incremental approach, the fact remains that a single-payer state-run health care system will cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars annually,” Young said.