Blogs of the LA Area Chamber

I’ve made more than 100 trips to Washington D.C. during my 39 years serving chambers of commerce in four states, but last Wednesday’s trip to D.C. was the most rewarding. Its purpose was the signing by Metro and federal transportation officials of a $1.25 billion Capital Investment Grant and an $856 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for phase one of the Purple Line Extension to West Los Angeles County.  

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The “individual mandate” provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. health care reform or “ACA”) began in January 2014, meaning that most U.S. citizens and legal residents need to have health insurance coverage or face a penalty by the end of each tax season. This is just one of many provisions and programs that kicked off in the new year, but will have a significant impact on individuals who do not currently have health coverage. Many people are still confused as to what they will need to do to find coverage, what type of coverage is available, and whether they qualify for federal financial assistance which can help make purchasing insurance more affordable.

Even if you don’t provide coverage as a business owner, you may find yourself in the position of needing to assist your employees with navigating the new health insurance marketplace. If you employ 50 or fewer full time employees, you now have an option to purchase coverage through the new health insurance marketplace, known as “Covered California,” in addition to being able to purchase from health insurance plans directly. Knowing the basics can help you and your employees be prepared and confident in navigating the new health insurance marketplace and selecting the right health plan specific to your needs and budget.

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The next big breakthrough in medicine, the Internet, manufacturing, green energy and construction will all have one thing in common: they will all be discovered or designed by a person educated in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). America's ability to compete globally will depend on innovations related to STEM and the economic opportunities for the young people in our classrooms today will depend on their education in subjects related to STEM.

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The Chamber is an advocate for business growth and jobs for the residents of Los Angeles County. An important part of this advocacy is voting for candidates who share our commitment to creating an environment that will help businesses grow.

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California is the largest market for health care insurance in the country. When it comes to health care, as California goes, so goes the nation. To maintain our status as a leader in Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation, California needs to maintain the integrity of its health care delivery system and create policies to make quality care more accessible and sustainable. 

Medi-Cal, California's version of the federal Medicaid program, is the main source of health insurance for more than 8 million Californians, primarily those who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, children, pregnant women, seniors and nonelderly adults with disabilities – all uniquely vulnerable populations. Because Medi-Cal is the single largest source of health insurance coverage in the State - covering one in five Californians - and a major source of funding for safety-net providers, it is critical to understanding how health care is financed and delivered in California. 

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Water will be a high priority during the Chamber's ACCESS Sacramento trip next week.  The reliable greenery we take for granted in California may be coming to an end without swift action.  

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