California Officials Offer Varied Views on House Health Care Reform Bill

California officials and lawyers offer different predictions about how the House recently adopted health care reform bill (HR 3962) will affect California and the rest of the country, the Hill's "Blog Briefing Room" reports.California LawmakersCalifornia Democratic Reps. Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa praised the House health reform bill, health care , for the allocation of, health care , new funds to support two California health care programs.The lawmakers pledged their support for the bill shortly, health care , before the House the bill passage vote.After 's, Costa announced that he had managed to finance to ensure for a UC Merced medical school with a residency, health care , program in Fresno. He said the bill also designed training programs and additional incentives for health workers to bring the San Joaquin Valley.Cardoza passage, health, health care , care , praised the bill, but said the extra work will be necessary to lower the cost of legislation and reduce the impact on small businesses, health care , (O 'Brien, "Blog Briefing Room," The Hill, 11 / 9). Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) not vote for the House to reform measure. He said the bill would raise insurance premiums, taxes and increasing, health care , unemployment levels.Abortion Coverage ConcernsRep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), health care , voted for the House bill because they said it would extend insurance, lower health care costs and repair of the health of the insurance system.However, Capps disappointed that the final version of removed the bill's, health care , provision on funding for abortion services (Collins, Ventura County Star, 11 / 8). Instead, the House version of the bill contains an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) that expressly bars a public insurance option over abortion. Although Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) initially voted for the House measure, said that she might withdraw its support, health care , if the final, health care , bill includes the Stupak amendment (AP / "KPCC News," Southern California Public Radio, 11 / 7). additional support for the Bill Anthony Wright of the advocacy group Health Access California, said the House measure would extend coverage, health care , to five million Californians who currently have health insurance. He added that the measure, health care , would help certain populations to afford and maintain their insurance coverage (Weiss [1], "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 11 / 9). Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) also issued a statement reiterating its support for national health reform and to announce that he was "very encouraged" by progress in Congress.Medi-Cal Costs Concern show ever, Schwarzenegger also said a final reform package should not require states to pay an unfair share of the costs (Office of the Governor release, 11 / 7). Kim Belshe, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said the state is currently struggling to pay for Medi-Cal, the Medicaid program.