Proposition 35 Will Address California’s Health Care Crisis
For Immediate Release
July 4, 2024
Contact: Molly Weedn
molly@axiomadvisors.com
The measure will secure urgently needed revenue to protect and expand health care access for all Californians
Sacramento – Yesterday, the Secretary of State’s office assigned ballot numbers to all qualified measures, designating the “Protect Our Health Care” measure Proposition 35. Prop 35 will address our most urgent health care priorities by securing ongoing revenue – without raising taxes on individuals – and dedicating these funds to protect and expand access to care at primary care and specialty care physicians, community health clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, family planning and mental health providers.
“Prop 35 is critically important to protect care for more than 15 million vulnerable Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for access to health care, as well as to address the health care crisis facing all Californians” said Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President & CEO and Co-Chair of the YES on 35 campaign. “This measure is essential in ensuring all Californians have equitable access to health care. This is a big step as we move toward Election Day.”
Proposition 35 would extend an existing levy on health insurance companies set to expire next year, and dedicates funding for:
- Expanding access to preventative health care so patients don’t have to rely on crowded ERs or urgent care clinics as their primary source of care
- Reducing wait times in emergency rooms
- Primary care and physicians’ offices
- Community health centers
- Specialty care like cancer, cardiology and OB/GYN ,
- Family planning
- Expanded mental health treatment
- Hiring more first responders and paramedics to reduce emergency response times
- Healthcare workforce training to address the worker shortage
- Expanding services for Medi-Cal patients to protect access to hospitals, physicians, women’s health and community clinics, and health centers.
Importantly, Prop 35 prevents the state from redirecting these funds for other purposes.
“For too long, critical funding has been diverted away from California’s health care delivery system,” added Hicks. “Prop 35 will impose strong accountability standards and ensure that funding intended for California’s health care system actually goes toward protecting and expanding access to care. We look forward to talking to voters in coming months about the importance of Yes on 35.”