Health Care and Coverage

California has the largest number of uninsured in the nation — 8.2 million people in 2009.

National health reform holds the promise of new coverage options for millions of uninsured and underinsured Californians. However, it will require effective implementation by state and local governments — and key stakeholders — to turn the promise into a reality.

The safety net has been serving an uninsured population that’s increased by 28% since 2007.

Between the opportunities created by healthcare reform and a challenging economic environment, California’s safety net is at a critical juncture which will require the safety net to re-invent itself in order to better serve everyone who needs health care.

Nearly 2 Million Californians Lost Health Insurance During Recession

Nearly 2 million Californians lost their health insurance during 2008 and 2009 — years characterized by a deep recession and mass layoffs — bringing the total number of uninsured in the state to more than 8 million, according to recent estimates from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. The number represents a 28 percent increase in the number of uninsured since 2007. Read more

New America Foundation Develops a Plan to Save Californians $300 Billion in Health Care Costs

In 2009, New America Foundation, with the support of Blue Shield of California Foundation, convened a California-based Task Force of high-level healthcare stakeholders from the hospital, physician, insurance, and consumer sectors. This diverse group of California healthcare leaders met in pursuit of one major goal: finding concrete ways to vastly improve the value the state gets for its healthcare spending. This report reflects their collective wisdom and highlights the best practices of the organizations they represent. Read more

2009 Community Clinic Leadership and Workforce Studies

Blue Shield of California Foundation joined with partners to examine the leadership and workforce needs of California community clinics field, with the goal of providing a snapshot of the current leadership landscape and implications to stimulate discussion and action among clinic leaders, their nonprofit and for-profit partners, funders and other stakeholders in the community clinics field. Download report (PDF)

The Community Clinic Voice

This site is a free, online gathering place for health care safety net professionals to network, share information and exchange ideas in order to build stronger and healthier communities. Learn more

Health Reform Implementation Center

States play a significant role in health reform implementation as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, so the State Consortium on Health Care Reform Implementation (State Consortium) was formed to provide coordinated and trusted information to states concerning the implementation of federal health reforms. The goals of the consortium are to provide states with technical assistance about requirements, offer options and best practices, and synthesize feedback to federal agencies on issues that affect state implementation. Learn more

	Brenda Solórzano Chief Program Director and Director, Health Care and Coverage
	Richard Thomason Program Officer, Health Care and Coverage
	Cecilia Echeverría Program Officer, Health Care and Coverage
	Bryan Tolentino Program Assistant, Health Care and Coverage
	Julie Apana Program Assistant, Health Care and Coverage

Featured Grantee

The Saban Free Clinic

Providing medical, dental, and social services to residents of Los Angeles County. Read more

View list of active grantees

Upcoming Grant Cycle Deadline

Letters of Inquiry due
November 2010

Learn more