Assemblymembers and Senators Join Advocates to Demand Medi-Cal Coverage for Californians

• Annel Lopez Hailey
• Communications Director
• (916) 319-2077
• [email protected]

SACRAMENTO, CA. - Today, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) was joined by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), Assemblymember Mark González (D-Los Angeles), Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens (D-Silicon Valley), Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), and advocates to spotlight the consequences of the federal government's approval of HR 1 on California's healthcare system and those counting on Medi-Cal for health access.

This year, the Western Center on Law & Poverty, Health Access, Justice in Aging, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, National Health Law Program, and The Children's Partnership, are sponsors of a bill package dedicated at keeping Californians Medi-Cal coverage. The legislation includes AB 2161 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, AB 2201 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, AB 2208 by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, and SB 1202 by Senator Akilah Weber-Pierson, M.D.

"Our most vulnerable communities are at risk of losing access to Medi-Cal, and we cannot let the Trump Administration win. When we prioritize our families, we also prioritize our state's budget, saving the state millions of dollars. My bill, AB 2201, will reduce the burden on Medi-Cal recipients and county workers by removing red tape already imposed by Trump's HR 1," stated Assemblymember Boerner. "My colleagues and I have introduced a legislative package to protect Californians and keep our families healthy."

"Since it was signed into law, responding to HR 1 has been my top priority. Donald Trump and Washington Republicans have given us the largest divestment from Medicaid in the program's history and have put 3 million Californians' healthcare at risk. We need to get creative in how we respond. HR 1 imposes new paperwork and work-reporting requirements on Medi-Cal recipients, rules that research consistently shows will cause people to lose coverage, not because they aren't working, but because of bureaucratic hurdles," stated Assemblymember Mia Bonta. "My bill, AB 2161, ensures California doesn't extend those requirements beyond what federal law requires. I'm proud to be working with my colleagues to protect all Californian's access to Medi-Cal."

"Millions of Californians rely on Medi-Cal to access essential healthcare. At a time when federal actions are creating uncertainty for vulnerable communities, California must do everything possible to protect access to care," stated Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco). "That is why I introduced AB 2208, which helps reduce barriers to care by preserving retroactive Medi-Cal coverage, lowering costs for low-income patients, and improving access to eligibility information. Healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and available to every Californian who needs it."

"H.R. 1 will inevitably cause millions of Medi-Cal members to lose their coverage by adding additional paperwork requirements and eligibility barriers such as work requirements," stated Senator Akilah Weber-Pierson, M.D. (D-San Diego). "SB 1202 requires the state, counties, and Medi-Cal plans to work with community groups and members to develop outreach plans on the new requirements. This all-hands on deck approach will ensure that California minimizes who loses their Medi-Cal coverage. SB 1202 also requires the state Medi-Cal program to track the impact of these bad federal policies on the Medi-Cal program in a publicly accessible dashboard. These new data requirements ensure that we understand which communities are impacted and how we can better reach out to those affected."

"At this critical time when families are already struggling to afford food, housing, and medication, the federal government is cutting vital safety net programs to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. Western Center is standing up to co-sponsor these four bills to protect Medi-Cal access. Medi-Cal is one of California's strongest anti-poverty tools, providing essential health care to nearly 40% of the state's residents and helping families avoid financial ruin when a medical emergency strikes. It means a parent can take their kid to the doctor without skipping a car payment. It means a worker can afford their medication and stay on the job. Supporting these bills is a vote for affordability, health, and the ability of low-income communities to survive and thrive. Medi-Cal is a non-negotiable foundation for lasting stability, and we call on California to defend it," stated Whitney Francis, Policy Advocate for Western Center on Law and Poverty.

"At a time when millions of Californians have their health care on the line, we need leaders in Sacramento to stand firmly with working families and push back against policies that create unnecessary barriers to coverage," said Christine Smith, policy and legislative advocate for Health Access California. "This legislative package helps protect Medi-Cal access, will reduce harmful red tape, and ensure eligible Californians can keep the care they depend on. California has long led the nation in expanding health care access, and these bills are critical to building a more equitable health system for everyone who lives and works in our state."

"With the federal administration eroding Medi-Cal's role as a social safety net, California can fight to protect coverage for the 14 million Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal. California has a role in defending coverage and reducing the harms of H.R.1 as much as possible. Justice in Aging is proud to support these 4 bills to keep people healthy and on Medi-Cal coverage," stated Tiffany Huyenh-Cho, Director of California Medicare and Medicaid Advocacy with Justice and Aging.

"California's most vulnerable communities are facing compounding attacks on healthcare access from federal H.R. 1 implementation to California's own budget cuts impacting immigrant communities. We are already experiencing disenrollments from California's unwinding. In 2025, over half of the Medi-Cal unwinding disenrollments were Latine. That is more than 700,000 community members who lost life-saving coverage," said Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. "Changes to Medi-Cal, like twice-a-year renewals, will lead to more community members falling off coverage due to additional administrative barriers, paperwork challenges, or language access gaps. For immigrant communities who face being frozen out of enrollment, the potential consequences are even more severe. California has long led the nation in expanding healthcare access, but these ongoing disenrollments undermine decades of progress toward health equity. We're proud to co-sponsor AB 2201 to help restore stability in our healthcare systems and ensure communities can access and maintain the care they need."

"Medi-Cal is a critical public health care program for low-income people in this state. Californians should not lose health care because of paperwork, bureaucratic barriers, or cruel federal policies enacted through H.R. 1 that are specifically designed to push people off coverage. These four bills are about protecting people, keeping families healthy, and ensuring our state does everything possible to keep all Californians connected to coverage and care," stated Kim Lewis, Managing Director of California Policy, National Health Law Program.

"The Medi-Cal Renewal Relief Act works to preserve children's access to Medi-Cal coverage by cutting through burdensome red tape. As new federal requirements from H.R. 1 risk disrupting coverage for millions, this bill helps ensure families can maintain the care they rely upon. Now more than ever, it is imperative that California use every tool at its disposal to reduce administrative barriers that disrupt Medi-Cal coverage for families and children. The Children's Partnership is proud to co-sponsor AB 2201 and to be included in this package of bills that will streamline access to Medi-Cal, a critical program in protecting the health and well-being of California's children and families," stated Lily Dorn, Policy Manager for Health Care at The Children's Partnership.

The legislative package is currently on the Suspense File in their respective houses. AB 2161, AB 2201, AB 2208, and SB 1202 will go through the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, May 14th.

The livestream can be viewed here.

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Assemblymember Tasha Boerner represents the 77th District, which encompasses Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Coronado and the coastal communities of La Jolla south to Downtown San Diego. You can learn more about Assemblymember Boerner at a77.asmdc.org, Facebook, Instagram, or BlueSky.