Protecting Health Care Access, Other News from Sen. Blakespear

Greetings!

A lot is going on in the world of health care‚ and that’s why I recently joined top health care executives (photo below) from across San Diego County to discuss the latest trends and what they are doing about them.

We face major challenges with federal funding cuts to Medicaid‚ low reimbursement levels for Medicare and changing policies of insurance carriers‚ among other factors. 

It is no secret that we are about to experience significant upheavals in health care at all levels due to the massive cuts in funding and complicated enrollment procedures that were included in federal legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in July.

The legislation reduces spending for Medicaid — known as Medi-Cal in California — by $1 trillion over the next 10 years. In California‚ some Covered California enrollees can expect new rules and higher costs‚ which means more people will likely be unable to secure the insurance. 

This will most significantly impact lower-income families and communities that are already struggling. State health officials project that over the next 10 years‚ the federal changes will cost California $28.4 billion and result in 3.4 million residents losing coverage.

In San Diego County‚ there are 882‚000 people covered by Medi-Cal‚ and 296‚000 are children. They are our future. We must not let them fall through the cracks. 

I am committed to working with health care organizations to find ways to blunt these impacts and keep health care as accessible as possible to everyone who needs it‚ especially children.

Many thanks to Scripps Health for helping to coordinate and hosting this discussion‚ which we held in the Scripps Green Hospital’s Copley Board Room.

I spoke at a recent press conference in San Diego calling for quicker action on transportation projects (photo on left).

Badly needed transportation projects can be approved and funded but still takes years and years to build‚ due to permitting requirements and additional bureaucratic hurdles many face. The unnecessary jumping through multiple third-party hoops‚ after a project has been approved‚ is time-consuming and costly – and it doesn’t serve the public’s best interest. 

This is detailed in a new report just released by Circulate San Diego‚ entitled “The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can’t Build Transit.” 

As Circulate San Diego points out‚ Californians understand building transit is slow and expensive but probably don’t realize that even when public transit projects are approved by elected officials or through voter-approved ballot measures‚ transit authorities do not have the power to construct them. Before they can build‚ they must seek third-party permits from local governments‚ special districts‚ state agencies‚ and public and private utilities. 

Many of these additional layers of bureaucracy are arbitrary‚ excessive and avoidable. Reform is needed. The report recommends:

• Reassigning permitting responsibility from third-parties to transit authorities themselves‚
• Incentivizing local governments to prioritize transit‚ adopt transparent standards‚ and streamline permitting‚
• Extending CEQA exemptions for sustainable transportation‚ and
• Encouraging more transit leadership from Caltrans.

Transit projects should be delivered quickly‚ on time‚ and on budget‚ but we’re stuck in a system where processes are delaying the transit projects needed to connect communities and meet our air quality goals. We need practical and meaningful reforms that maintain important environmental and community protections while empowering our transit agencies to build efficiently and quickly‚ without bureaucratic gridlock.

I joined Assemblymember Diane Dixon (left) and moderator Daniel Sohn at the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon. Sohn is the chamber’s Executive Director.

In these politically divisive times‚ bipartisanship seems rare. But I was happy to talk with the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce recently and discuss the many ways I am working to find bipartisan solutions to our state’s pressing problems. 

For starters‚ Dixon and Assemblymember Laurie Davies‚ both Republicans‚ have co-authored legislation with me to improve oversight of sober living homes. Orange County has more beds for small drug and alcohol treatment facilities per 10‚000 residents than any other California county. 

Our bill‚ SB 329‚ follows up on a recent state audit that found that the state could take months to assign a complaint about an alcohol or drug treatment facility to staff and sometimes over a year to do an investigation. That’s not good for patients or others affected‚ such as surrounding neighborhoods.

SB 329 would require the state to assign complaints about treatment facilities to staff within 10 days of receiving them and complete an investigation within 60 days. This is important to ensure transparency and accountability. 

Mainly‚ as a state legislator‚ I am always looking for pragmatic solutions. That’s why I joined with Republicans to support CEQ reforms and to establish a way (SB 84‚ by Sen. Roger Niello‚ R-Fair Oaks) for small businesses to correct any ADA violations before facing a lawsuit. 

From my experience in local government‚ I know the value of small businesses and working to involve everyone in the community to solve problems.

I was delighted to get a tour of the Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute’s fish hatchery in Carlsbad from institute President and CEO Don Kent (center‚ left photo). I got to see firsthand (right photo) how the institute is restoring the population of the California white seabass.

Restoring our marine fish populations is crucial for the health of our oceans and for our economy. The Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute‚ a non-profit scientific research organization‚ is playing a vital role with its Carlsbad fishery.

The 22‚000-square-foot fish hatchery‚ established in 1995‚ is capable of producing over 350‚000 juvenile white seabass annually.

This is part of state efforts to rebuild the population of this species of large‚ highly prized fish sought after by both commercial and recreational fishermen. The recovery plan includes limiting harvests while protecting young white seabass and spawning adults through seasonal closures‚ gear provisions and size and bag limits. Thanks to Hubbs for all it is doing!

I was delighted to join Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (right photo) to talk with the League of California Cities’ San Diego Division about what we’re working on in Sacramento.

As the former Mayor of Encinitas‚ I know the importance of what cities do and how crucial it is for the state to work closely with them.

That’s why I am glad to partner with the League of California Cities on two significant bills this year. SB 569 would speed up Caltrans response to homelessness encampments beside state roads and highways and SB 329 would improve oversight of sober living homes.

I’ve also pushed to provide more funding and resources for cities to tackle homelessness. 

As always‚ I welcome input from the cities in Senate District 38 and how I can best represent them.

Work at the San Diego International Airport is progressing‚ and I’d like to give you an update.

As of Aug. 1‚ a new dedicated entrance roadway is helping drivers reach Terminals 1 and 2 more efficiently. This new three-lane road was built to streamline airport access‚ reduce delays and take pressure off surrounding streets. By removing intersections and stoplights‚ it creates a smoother‚ more predictable route for the 45‚000 vehicles expected to use it each day.

What’s to know

• Drivers coming from West Laurel Street can now bear right to enter the airport directly via the new road.
• From westbound North Harbor Drive‚ the entrance appears sooner than before‚ just past Laurel Street. Watch for signs and stay to the right.
• If you miss the entrance‚ you can still get to Terminal 1 via Harbor Island Drive and Terminal 2 via Spanish Landing.
• If you’re coming from Point Loma (eastbound)‚ your route remains unchanged.

This new entrance is part of the ongoing Terminal 1 redevelopment project‚ which is bringing long-overdue upgrades to one of our region’s most important transportation hubs.

As part of this effort‚ the airport is hosting a New T1 Community Reveal for the public on Sunday‚ Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Airport staff will be on hand to answer questions and guide attendees through the latest improvements. Parking is free with validation at the T1 Parking Plaza.

The new Terminal 1 officially opens for flights on Sept. 23.

For visuals‚ maps‚ and details about the full project‚ go here.

Thank you for your support. I am honored to serve you. 

In partnership‚

Email me at Senator.Blakespear@Senate.ca.gov
Call my Encinitas district office at (760) 642-0809
Call my Laguna Hills district office at (949) 598-5850
Call my Capitol office in Sacramento at (916) 651-4038