Here is the Recap of LCHC Policy Priorities that Advanced Latinx Health in the 2022 Legislative Session
At the end of September, LCHC wrapped up the 2022 legislative session. A majority of LCHC 2022 priority bills were signed into law by Governor Newsom, including our co-sponsored CHW/Promotora bill AB 2697 authored by Asm. Aguiar-Curry.
AB 2697 is an especially important bill for LCHC as the promotora workforce in California is largely Latina, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking. Community-based organizations that work and operate in Latinx communities have utilized CHW/P services to equitably deliver care, accurate and timely information to Latinx communities for decades, but most recently – through notable statewide campaigns on COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccination.
With the Governor’s most recent investments to increase the workforce by 25,000 workers by 2025, AB 2697 ensures that a community stakeholder process continues with the Department of Healthcare Services to implement the Medi-Cal benefit, including participation from CBOs, providers, and CHWs themselves. Additionally, AB 2697 will prioritize culturally and linguistically accessible outreach and education to people enrolled in Medi-Cal, the vast majority of whom are Black, Indigenous, Latinx or people of color.
Governor Newsom also signed SB 972 which creates fundamental pathways for food vendors to obtain health permits to vend legally in California. This is a way to grow businesses in our communities while providing culturally relevant food in many food deserts in California and creating sustainable jobs.
LCHC has three priority areas of work that determine our strategic policy priority bills: 1. Access to Healthcare and Health Equity for All 2. Building Healthy Communities 3. Health & Human Rights. These three policy areas of work aim to advance policy that addresses key health issues to improve Latinx health outcomes. Here is the full recap of LCHC priority bills that advanced the Latinx Health Equity Agenda in 2022:
Priority Issue Area 1: Access to Healthcare and Health Equity for All
- Health4All
- This year the final budget included Medi-Cal, the expansion to cover the remaining population of Californians ages 26-49, regardless of immigration status. This Medi-Cal expansion for all income-eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status, between the ages of 26 and 49 will be implemented no later than January 1, 2024. The next step is to take on coverage limits in Covered CA programs.
- SB 1019 (Gonzalez) Strengthening Mental Health Access for Diverse Communities
- This bill will require Medi-Cal managed care plans to have culturally and linguistically relevant outreach materials to inform consumers of their rights to mental health services, robust community stakeholder engagement on evaluation of access and services, and collection and sharing of data on health disparities by race, ethnicity, and other categories. Bill was signed into law this year
LCHC Priority Issue Area 2: Building Healthy Communities
- Food4All
- This year’s final budget includes investment to increase access to food for low-income, immigrant families through the expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), regardless of immigration status who are 55 years and older. . Policy was enacted through the state budget this year. The campaign continues to be steadfast in its goal to expand state-funded nutrition benefits to Californians of all ages, regardless of their immigration status.
- AB 2697 (Aguiar-Curry) Standards for Community Health Workers/ Promotores
- Establishes standards and requirements, with community stakeholder input, for qualification, payment, and reimbursement, supervision for Community Health Workers/Promotores under the CHW/P Medi-Cal benefit. The bill successfully made it through the policy process and has now been signed into law.
LCHC Priority Issue Area 3: Health & Human Rights
- Greater Access and Equity for Street Vendors SB 972 (Gonzalez)
- This bill will reform the state food code to make the street vending permitting process more accessible and equitable to sell food for economic mobility and justice. This bill was signed into law after a particularly visible campaign that was led by street vendors with the support of advocates.
Despite the important policy wins this year, a lot of work remains to achieve Latinx health equity in California. We look forward to engaging legislators and the Governor to continue to work on these bills and issues for a healthier and more equitable California:
- Health Equity and Racial Justice Fund Budget Request
- $100 million budget request of ongoing funding for community-based organizations, tribal organizations, and clinics to address social determinants of health – such as housing, food access, and community violence – through innovative and community-led initiatives that will advance racial justice and health equity. Despite being included in the Legislature’s final budget, the budget request was not a part of the state’s final 2022-2023 budget. Partners are continuing to work with stakeholders to ensure the fund’s inclusion in the state budget for next year.
- AB 2419 (Bryan) Equitable Climate Resiliency Funding to Communities of Color
- California Justice40 Act would invest at least 40 percent of federal climate and infrastructure funding to communities that have been historically neglected by discriminatory policies – low-income, Indigenous, and rural communities and communities of color. This bill did not make it out of committee. However, awareness of the urgency of climate resiliency was discussed and will continue to be pushed in future legislation.
###
About LCHC: Founded in 1992, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is the only Latinx-led statewide policy and advocacy organization protecting and advancing Latinx health equity. We are a cross-sector coalition of community leaders, advocates, policy advisors, administrators and providers united by our common belief in protecting Latinx health and advancing health equity for all. Our work consists of community-centered programming, policy, advocacy development, and strategic communications. Learn more at www.lchc.org.
