LCHC Statement in Support of Prop 35
“A step toward securing Medi-Cal coverage for over 15 million Californians and their families, with more than 50% of them who are Latinos.”
– Efrain Talamantes, Board Chair of LCHC
The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California alongside the LCHC Board, is supporting Proposition 35 because it represents an opportunity to drive meaningful improvements in California’s healthcare system, benefiting Latinos across the state. Proposition 35 aims to improve access to healthcare by securing Medi-Cal funding. Today, over 15 million Californians are covered by Medi-Cal and over half are Latino. Despite having health insurance coverage, there are long standing delays in care due to lack of providers accepting low Medi-Cal rates. Unfortunately, no policy vehicle is perfect and Prop 35 leaves behind two key health equity priorities that advance Latino health: Promotores and continuous coverage of children 0-5 under Medi-Cal.
After discussions with Prop 35 leaders, LCHC secured commitments to prioritize equity in the measure’s implementation. Creating the opportunity to work together to develop and collaborate on what the equity implementation strategy should be. Through this effort LCHC will ensure community-based organizations and promotoras are centered in decision-making.
As the leading Latino health policy advocacy organization in the state, our coalition represents a comprehensive spectrum of the Latino community within the health field – from patients and consumers, to Promotoras and physicians. LCHC believes with these new equity measures in Prop 35 implementation, California can take a step toward much-needed systemic transformation in healthcare. As a key partner in the California CHW/P/R Coalition, we have championed efforts to secure sustainable wages for these essential workers and achieved state budget support for rate increases. Additionally, we have administratively and legislatively fought for continuous Medi-Cal coverage, particularly for children, to address disparities affecting Latino and Indigenous communities and we will continue to do so in the implementation of Prop 35.
LCHC is committed to advancing equity in all policies that seek to improve health, transform the healthcare delivery system, grow the healthcare workforce, and improve health outcomes for all Californians.
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Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is the leading statewide policy organization with a specific emphasis on Latine & Indigenous health. For over 33 years, LCHC has worked on transforming systems to achieve health justice. We pride ourselves on translating community solutions into equitable policy and lasting systemic change. Our work focuses on legislative and administrative advocacy, people power, and narrative change.
