About Proposition 35
Proposition 35, the “Protect Our Health Care” ballot initiative will secure ongoing funding for the Medi-Cal program by extending an existing tax on health insurance companies — without raising taxes on individuals — and dedicating these funds to protect and expand access to care for all Californians. And importantly, it will prevent the state from redirecting these revenues for non-health care purposes.
Prop. 35 will ensure that patient access to care is not compromised during challenging fiscal times, when meaningful access to health care becomes even more critical in sustaining healthy and productive communities and driving our economy forward.
The Protect Our Health Care initiative is essential to ensure the accessibility of health care services for all Californians and recognizes the vital role that physicians play in achieving this vision.
Prop. 35 includes targeted rate increases for primary care and specialty care to make it easier for patients with Medi-Cal coverage to find a physician. In addition, the measure includes funding for graduate medical education to create more residency slots and new residency programs and loan repayment for those who agree to treat patients with Medi-Cal coverage.
Specifically, the initiative will:
- Expand access to preventive health care for patients with Medi-Cal coverage, leading to fewer costly emergency room visits and shorter wait times for all Californians;
- Increase funding for mental health, including for those who need in-patient care;
- Help California to manufacture its own insulin and other prescription drugs for much lower prices than exist currently; and
- Expand California’s education and training to create a pipeline of physicians and other health care providers to help alleviate shortages in underserved areas of the state.
The participation and support of California's physicians will be key to advancing this initiative. Thank you for helping us get this far and we look forward to getting you more involved in the Prop 35 campaign!