Citing a federal government estimate that more than 3 million Californians cannot find doctors who will provide them essential medical care, health care and social justice advocates challenge the Senate to show the same level of compassion and leadership demonstrated by yesterday’s passage of SB 726 (Ashburn) on the Assembly Floor.

“Speaker John Perez and members of the State Assembly listened to the desperate concerns of Californians who lack basic access to healthcare. By voting in support of SB 726, which will allow facilities in rural and federally designated health professional shortage areas to hire a limited number of doctors, the Assembly has acted to ease the escalating doctor shortages that are plaguing lower income and rural communities,” said Tom Petersen, director of government relations for the Association of California Healthcare Districts.