Sacramento, CA – In response to the dangerous proposals being set forth by the Trump Administration to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Jim Wood, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and Senator Ed Hernandez, Chair of the Senate Health Committee are hosting a first-of-its-kind hearing focused on the Affordable Care Act, which brought healthcare coverage to 35,000 Sonoma County residents and over 3.2 million across California.

The hearing will feature local government and healthcare leaders, local medical clinic executives, medical professionals and patients. The hearing will be focused on the impact the ACA has had on residents throughout the state and the North Bay, local healthcare plans and medical clinics will be on hand to discuss their views on the ACA and what a repeal would mean to the health of our communities and the North Bay economy. The State Legislative Members will also be discussing California’s plans to defend the Affordable Care Act (known as Covered California) here in the Golden State.

“We are deeply concerned that President Trump’s plans for the Affordable Care Act will hurt millions of Californians, leave Sonoma County’s most vulnerable without insurance and take a bite out of our economy,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “We’re bringing the leading experts together to provide updates on policy strategies, and to hear an overview of what to expect from local hospitals, community health centers, patients and medical professionals.”

Dr. Jim Wood, who represents Sonoma County and the North Coast, serves as Chair for the Assembly Committee on Health.

“The looming actions of Congress and the newly elected president do not bode well for Californian’s health care,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood. “We will be on the front lines protecting the progress we have made, and as chair of Assembly Health Committee, will use the resources and expertise at my disposal to work through this incoming storm.”

California has experienced the largest percentage point decline in the uninsured rate of any state – a significant drop from 20 percent when the ACA passed in 2010 to 8.6 percent in 2015. During the Hearing, policy makers, patients, doctors, and health care providers will discuss the potential impacts an ACA repeal would have in the North Bay, as well as the direct impacts it could have on patients.

Dr. Ed Hernandez represents the Los Angeles area and serves as Chair for the Senate Committee on Health.

“We must do everything possible to protect access to affordable health care here in California and work together to put a face to the millions of Californians who have benefited from the Affordable Care Act and Medi-Cal expansion,” said Senator Hernandez. “I look forward to meeting with residents of the state’s North Bay to hear their stories.”

Here are the Hearing details:

WHAT:  The Affordable Care Act: Keeping California Healthy 

WHEN:  Saturday, February 25, 2017 from 1 to 3 p.m.

WHERE:  Piner High School, 1700 Fulton Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

A second release will be distributed with a list of panelists in the coming two weeks.

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