by Marian Shostrom, Co-chair LWVDV Healthcare Interest Group

Earlier Voter articles described efforts to privatize Medicare.  Assembly Joint Resolution 4 (AJR 4) (Schiavo, McGuire), currently in the Legislature, urges President Joseph Biden to end the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) Model immediately. The California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), sponsor of the Resolution, states that ACO REACH undermines the core, consumer-directed principles of Traditional Medicare. CARA states that this program establishes the foundation for the outright privatization of Traditional Medicare. To date, at least 27 of the 132 participating ACOs are serving California REACH-aligned beneficiaries.

AJR 4 passed the Assembly Health Committee on April 25, 2023, and is in the floor process. You can find more information in the Legislative Analysis provided for the Health Committee.