California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is giving his full support to the new federal healthcare reform law, announcing that his administration will act quickly to comply.
Flanked by medical staff at the 565-bed University of California at Davis Medical Center, Schwarzenegger broke ranks with other Republican governors, many of whom plan to sue the federal government over a requirement in the law that individuals carry insurance.
“California is not part of this fight, and I’ll tell you why,” Schwarzenegger said. “When you don’t have health insurance and you go to the hospital, you are forcing other people to pay for your healthcare.”
With one in five California residents uninsured, Schwarzenegger said the crisis needs a solution now. “The bottom line is the plan is not without flaws, but it is a good law,” he said.
To that end, California will launch and operate a new temporary high-risk insurance pool for the uninsured, funded by $761 million from HHS through 2014.
Schwarzenegger also pledged to enforce the law, including making sure insurers comply with bans on lifetime medical spending caps and rescissions. And he said he would call the Legislature into a special session, if necessary, to make statutory changes to comply with the law’s many provisions.
“We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and work with the federal government to get this done,” he said.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised Schwarzenegger in a statement, saying “Working in partnership with states like California, we will be able to move efficiently and effectively to make these reforms a reality for all Americans.”
