Healthcare is by almost any measure the defining policy issue of our day--how to restore a measure of affordability to healthcare for individuals, families and employers, and provide access to healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured. Senator Noreen Evans has made a legislative priority of empowering consumers to better contend with our difficult healthcare marketplace.

Her legislative work and record on healthcare includes:

SB 840 (Kuehl) (Universal Healthcare) – This bill would create the California Healthcare System, a single-payer (universal) health-care system, to provide health insurance coverage to all California residents. 2007/08. Co-authored by Evans. Bill vetoed.

AB 16 (Health Coverage: HPV Vaccination) – Would require health plans and insurers to cover the vaccination of human papillomavirus (HPV), if they already provide coverage for the treatment or surgery of cervical cancer and an annual cervical cancer-screening test. Introduced by Evans.  2008. Bill vetoed.

AB 30 (Inborn Errors of Metabolism) – Would require health plans and insurers to provide coverage for the treatment of all inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) in newborn children that, if untreated, may result in death, coma, seizures, cardiovascular disease and mental retardation. IEMs are genetic disorders in which the body is unable to breakdown certain proteins. Current law only requires treatment for one of 47 different IEMs. The March of Dimes sponsors this legislation. Introduced by Evans.  2008. Bill vetoed.

AB 1331 (Disabled Foster Youth) – Requires county child-welfare agencies to screen all foster youth between 16.5 and 17.5 years of age for mental and physical disability and assist them in applying for Supplemental Security Income, a federal income supplement program for the disabled that provides a monthly cash benefit. Introduced by Evans.  2007. Bill signed.

AB 1330 (Psychotropic Drugs) – Would require the Department of Social Services to track use of psychotropic drugs in the foster care system. Existing law lacks adequate data collection, and there have been several anecdotal stories about the over-medication of foster youth as a behavioral control mechanism rather than a treatment. Introduced by Evans.  2007. Held in committee.

AB 2205 (Child Nutrition) – Would reduce hunger and improve nutrition among the children of low-income families by coordinating healthcare, food stamp and school meals programs. Specifically, this bill would require the Department of Social Services to establish categorical eligibility for food stamp benefits for Medi-Cal recipients who are eligible for services funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. 2006.  Introduced by Evans. Bill vetoed.

AB 2609 (Residential Care Facilities) – Prevents medication mistakes that could cost seniors their lives by establishing training requirements for the staff of residential care facilities for the elderly. Residential care facility staffs are non-medical personnel who are not permitted to administer medications directly, but their duties may involve organizing a complex regiment of medications taken by residents. Introduced by Evans.  2006. Bill signed.

AB 2469 (IHSS Payment Acceleration) – Would help counties with populations of up to 250,000 to provide in-home supportive services programs (IHSS) to seniors through enabling these counties to receive accelerated payment for the state’s share of care services costs and allow seniors to remain living in dignity in their own homes. It would help 33 smaller counties--including Napa County--who may not have other revenues to cover these costs until repayment is received. Introduced by Evans.  2006. Bill vetoed.

AB 2757 (Clinic Licensure) – Enabled community clinics to operate more efficiently and provide more effective service to low-income clients. Introduced by Evans.  2006. Bill signed.

AB 1945 (De La Torre) (Insurance Companies) – Would impose requirements and conditions on health insurance companies that seek to rescind existing policies. The bill was a response to reports of insurance companies retroactively canceling coverage after people became ill and began drawing benefits. Supported by Evans. 2008. Bill vetoed.

SB 1420 (Padilla) (Menu-Based Nutritional Disclosure) – Makes California the first state in the nation to require chain restaurants to include the caloric counts of their standard items on menus and menu boards. Supported by Evans. 2008. Bill signed.

Legislation Job Creation State Budget Reform Environment Healthcare Education & Children