The state of California has created a new agency to limit future growth in healthcare costs, according to a July 15 report from CalMatters.
According to a California Health Care Foundation report, half of Californians skipped or postponed medical care in 2021 because of costs.
The new Office of Health Care Affordability will investigate the causes behind price increases and hold health industry players accountable, according to the release.
The office has been years in the making, with industry representatives, legislators, and Gov. Gavin Newsom haggling over specifics. In its final form, it will be seated in the Department of Health Care Access and Information and led by department Director Elizabeth Landsberg.
One in 4 Californians say they or someone in their family had problems paying at least one medical bill in the past 12 months, an increase from 20 percent in last year’s survey. Forty-three percent of lower-income Californians report having issues paying medical bills, a rise from 32 percent last year.