By Anthony White, TrueCare Vice President of Government & Community Affairs
This November, California voters will see Proposition 44 on the ballot. If passed, Prop 44 will impact community health centers like TrueCare, the patients who rely on us, and the health care system we all depend on.
Supporters say Prop 44 would hold clinics accountable, however, as written, Prop 44 will financially penalize the over 2,300 community health centers in California if they spend resources on essential staff and services vital to patient care, including telemedicine, translation services, transportation, enrollment support, medical equipment, and more.
If Prop 44 passes, these financial penalties for community health centers are estimated to reach $1.7 billion in the first year alone. This number is concerning because community health centers are at the heart of every health community, and any loss in funding would be devastating. At a time when many Californians already struggle to find affordable, timely care, this measure would make it harder to deliver the services patients need.
TrueCare has served North San Diego and Riverside Counties for more than 50 years. For many patients, we are the first place they turn for preventive care, chronic disease management, behavioral health support, dental care, and help navigating coverage. These services are especially important for people who face transportation challenges, language barriers, limited insurance options, or difficulty taking time away from work. When community health centers have the funding and resources they need, more people can get care early instead of waiting until a health issue becomes an emergency.
Community health centers also provide care and support that extend beyond the exam room. In one community, that may mean investing in interpretation services so patients can understand their care plan. In another, it may mean transportation support, outreach to enroll families in coverage, or telehealth options for patients who cannot easily come into one of our health centers.
At TrueCare, we host food distributions that provide healthy groceries for anyone in our community who may need them. We bring our mobile care units to schools, churches, and community centers. We partner regularly with other community organizations to bring innovative programs and approaches to care, helping us meet people where they are. These are not extras. They are part of the care experience and help remove the barriers to accessing care.
Prop 44’s Impact Beyond Community Health Centers
Prop 44 doesn’t just impact community health centers and the patients that rely on them. This proposition will further strain our entire health care system by increasing the pressure on emergency rooms and raising health care costs for everyone.
When patients lose access to care and resources, the impact is felt far beyond one clinic visit. A missed appointment can lead to delayed diagnoses, unmanaged chronic conditions, and preventable trips to the emergency room. Hospitals and emergency departments are already under pressure, and community health centers help reduce that burden by keeping preventive care available close to home. Prop 44 would make it harder for health centers to fill this gap.
