Coming on the Heels of Speaker Rendon’s Endorsement, CNA’s Support Shakes Up Race for Insurance Commissioner, Shifts Momentum to Levine
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Sacramento, CA)--Today, the California Nurses Association announced its sole endorsement for Democrat Marc Levine’s campaign for California Insurance Commissioner.
"While many politicians make empty promises about making structural reforms to our healthcare system, we believe, as Insurance Commissioner, Marc Levine will have the courage to take on the insurance industry and help California lead the nation in making quality, affordable healthcare a reality for every Californian,” said Sandy Reding, Co-President of California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
“I am so proud to have earned the endorsement of the California Nurses Association,” said candidate for Insurance Commissioner, Assemblymember Marc Levine. “Our nurses do heroic work, which has never been more apparent than during the pandemic. I have also long believed that every Californian should have quality, affordable healthcare, a belief that has only been reaffirmed again and again in the face of COVID. As Insurance Commissioner, I will work closely with CNA to protect and expand healthcare for all Californians.”
The endorsement from the California Nurses Association comes on the heels of Monday’s announcement that State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is also endorsing Levine’s campaign for Insurance Commissioner.
“These two blockbuster endorsements have completely shaken up the race for Insurance Commissioner,” said Levine for Insurance Commissioner Senior Strategist Katie Merrill. “With just a few weeks before the critical Democratic State Convention endorsement vote, the momentum has clearly shifted in Marc’s favor, as key leaders and organizations recognize that he is the candidate who is ready to take on the insurance industry and fight for healthcare and other insurance reforms for California consumers.”
As an Assemblymember, Marc Levine has been a leader on healthcare in the state legislature. A strong supporter of universal healthcare, Levine has introduced real plans to broaden coverage. For example, he drafted historic legislation to tax healthcare companies in order to close a $1.1 billion Medi-Cal funding gap, which would protect 5 million California kids and other vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities. Last week, he was proud to vote yes on Assembly Bill 1400 in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. As Insurance Commissioner, he has committed to:
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Authoring a new health insurance consumer’s bill of rights to protect the right to quality, affordable care for all Californians.
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Ensuring the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is protected and continues to be implemented as promised.
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Enshrining a patient’s right to sue their insurance company by ending the practice of requiring pre-dispute binding arbitration requirements when people purchase health insurance.
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Investigating fraud and abuse, reform inefficiencies, and establish new best practices in the massive PPO market that is overseen by the Insurance Commissioner’s office.