Sacramento, CA - The New America Foundation's California Program issued the following statements today following the signing by President Barack Obama of a comprehensive and historic healthcare reform bill:

Leif Wellington Haase, Director of New America's California Program stated, "There is a great deal of heavy lifting ahead to make this work in the states.  One of the most challenging tasks will be building the new state-based insurance exchanges while preserving employer-based coverage." 

Mr. Haase also stated that "the bill is more ambitious on cost control than it has been given credit for. Some of its most important features - such as an independent Medicare advisory board and tests of bundled payments and accountable care organizations - point the health care delivery system in a new direction. If the health care industry and private payers believe these innovations are here to stay, they will make changes to their business models that will bring down costs."

Dr. Micah Weinberg, Senior Research Fellow in the California Program explains that, "there are important provisions that go into effect quickly that many people don't know about that may help control healthcare costs and improve medical quality in California.  On the other hand, federal legislation embeds a series of potential landmines that will have to be carefully defused."

This past year, Mr. Haase and Dr. Weinberg ran the California Task Force on Affordable Care, a group of California healthcare leaders in pursuit of one major goal: finding concrete ways to vastly improve the value the state of California gets for its healthcare spending.

More information on this effort can be found at: http://healthca.newamerica.net/california_task_force_on_affordable_care
 
More information on California's health policy program can be found at http://healthca.newamerica.net/home

For media inquiries please contact Elizabeth Wu at 510-295-9859 or wu@newamerica.net.