Call to ACTION:
Healthcare costs can be catastrophic for people with few resources. The Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition supports AB 1312, which the Legislature passed. Now we need to ask the Governor to sign it.
Thank you for advocating that California hospitals should proactively screen patients for charity care and discounts.
Summary:
This bill would, effective in 2027, require a hospital to screen a patient to determine if they meet specific criteria, including that the patient is enrolled in CalFresh or CalWORKs, and, if they do, presumptively determine that a patient is eligible for participation under the hospital’s charity care policy and discount payment policy.
Why we support AB 1312:
For many patients, especially those who are low-income, uninsured, or members of minority communities, confusing application processes and a lack of information prevent them from accessing the financial aid they are legally entitled to receive. AB 1312 requires hospitals to proactively screen patients for eligibility for free or discounted charity care before sending a first bill. We support AB 1312 because it aims to reduce medical debt, which we know is one of the most powerful drivers of poverty in our country.
Information about this bill from CalMatters Digital Democracy
Summary | Bill Text | Status | Votes | Analysis | Supporters & Opponents
On the linked page above, click on an item in the tabbed section below the Current Status timeline. NOTE: If the status is “Enacted” the Governor has already signed the bill.
How to ask the Governor to sign this bill
This applies to all bills that have passed both houses of the state legislature.
1. Go to https://www.gov.ca.gov/
2. Click on “Contact” at the right end of the top menu bar to get to the “Contact the Governor” page (https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/)
3. On the Best method page, under What is your request or comment about?, select the Topic “An Active Bill.”
4. Under “What specific bill?”, scroll down to select “AB 1312: Hospital pricing.”
If you don’t see the bill you’re looking for, it’s probably for one of these reasons: (1) the bill hasn’t passed the Legislature yet, (2) the Governor has already signed or vetoed the bill, (3) the deadline for the Governor to act on the bill has passed, or (4) you got the bill number wrong.)
5. Under What is the purpose of your message?, click “Leave a comment.”
6. Click the “Next” button.
7. Under If applicable, what is your stance on this topic?, select “Pro”.
8. Under What is your message for the Governor?, do this:
- Copy Please sign AB 1312! and paste it into the “Message subject” box, replace the default subject “An Active Bill”. Your message title will be “Please sign AB 1312!”.
9. In the Message box, paste this argument in support of the bill:
- Copy and paste the text below into the Message box. Feel free to edit or add your own words.
- Please sign AB 1312! I support AB 1312 because it will ensure that patients can access the financial assistance for medical expenses they are eligible to receive. This will reduce medical debt, which is a crushing driver of poverty in our state.
10. Click the “Next” button.
11. Fill in your name, email address, and (optionally) phone number.
12. Click the “Submit” button.
That’s all there is to it!
Alternative Methods
Here are other ways to contact the Governor. These may take longer.
Mail
Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone
(916) 445-2841
