Rural County Leaders Endorse YES on Proposition 35 to Protect and Expand Access to Health Care
In an effort to protect and expand access to health care – without raising taxes on individuals – the Rural County Representatives of California has endorsed Proposition 35.
RCRC has championed California’s rural communities since 1972, and they join a growing bipartisan coalition committed to ensuring the state keeps its promise of timely, quality, and affordable health care for everyone.
California’s rural counties consistently rank low on crucial health outcome measures, primarily because of geographic isolation, fewer health care providers and higher rates of chronic diseases. The state has exacerbated the crisis by redirecting $30 billion in health care funding over the last 15 years to non-health care purposes.
Proposition 35 will address California’s health care crisis by protecting resources to provide and expand patient access to care at community health clinics, hospitals, dentists, emergency rooms, primary care, family planning, mental health providers and specialty care providers like oncologists, cardiologists and OB/GYNs.
“California’s rural communities know all too well that inadequate health care funding has led to overcrowded emergency rooms, fewer hospitals and clinics, and patients having to wait months to see a doctor or dentist,” said Rural County Representatives of California Chair and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez. “Prop 35 offers a lifeline to rural communities, ensuring better health outcomes to bridge the disparity gap. The measure also funds education and training to help rural counties expand their health care workforce to better serve our communities.”
Prop 35 will improve health care access for the most vulnerable Californians, including the nearly 15 million children, low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities who count on Medi-Cal. This is especially important for California’s rural communities as 50 percent of residents in Central Valley counties and 41.6 percent in Northern Rural counties rely on Medi-Cal for preventative and specialty care.
“Improving access to timely, affordable, and quality health care strengthens the fabric of the entire community,” said RCRC President and CEO Patrick Blacklock. “When everyone can see a doctor or dentist when needed, our workforce becomes more productive, children learn better in school and seniors can age with dignity. Prop 35 will help ensure that where you live doesn’t determine your health or well-being.
Prop 35 secures ongoing revenue by extending an existing levy on health insurance companies. It ensures strict accountability by preventing the state from redirecting these funds for non-health care purposes.
The measure guarantees that 99 percent of the money is spent directly on expanding access to health care, with administrative costs capped at 1 percent. The measure also requires annual independent performance audits to ensure funds are spent as intended.
Prop 35 has received bipartisan support from a growing coalition of clinics, community health centers, hospitals, physicians, dentists, Planned Parenthood, labor unions, social justice organizations, nurses, health care workers and first responders. The California Democratic and Republican Parties have endorsed Prop 35 because it will improve access to health care for ALL California patients.
Learn more and join the coalition today at voteyes35.com.
About the Yes on Prop 35 Coalition
The Yes on Prop 35 Coalition is a group of physicians, hospitals, health care workers, community health centers, Planned Parenthood, dentists and emergency responders dedicated to increasing access to health care.