California Legislation to Fight COVID-19
On Monday, March 16, 2020, Governor Newsom signed emergency legislation to help efforts to combat COVID-19. More than $1 billion to expand bed access across California.
Office of the Governor newsroom
Los Angeles Times article (subscription required)
Here are some of the improvements included:
- increases to hospital bed capacity and purchase medical equipment to combat the coming surge in COVID-19 patients
- protection for hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities most vulnerable to COVID-19 spread
- lifesaving services to Californians isolating at home
- support for local government to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in homeless populations and provide safe beds for people experiencing homelessness
- funding to clean child-care facilities that remain open
Federal Legislation to Fight COVID-19
The Senate and House have approved a bill that the president signed into law: Families First Coronavirus Response Act is aimed at helping support individuals and families, as the spread of the virus continues to affect how we work, learn and live.
Here are some of the improvements included:
- temporary increases to federal Medicaid funds to states and territories by increasing the federal medical assistance percentages for each state and territory by 6.2%—with some changes to the state maintenance of effort requirements to ensure greater coverage. This translates to about $36 billion.
- new, optional Medicaid eligibility category for uninsured individuals, completely paid for by the federal government. Uninsured individuals—defined as not eligible for Medicaid and not enrolled in group, individual or public coverage—could be enrolled in Medicaid and receive COVID-19 testing services. This will not cover undocumented individuals.
- FMLA amendment to provide up to 10 weeks of protected paid leave to eligible employees for a coronavirus-related reason (includes staying home from work because of the coronavirus, caring for a close family member under quarantine, or isolation, or caring for a minor child who cannot go to school or daycare because of a public health emergency caused by the coronavirus).