Public Comments

Letter to CMS on 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs

Posted March 7, 2022

West Health’s comment letter addresses CMS’ proposal to include the pharmacy portion of Direct and Indirect Remuneration in the definition of negotiated price for purposes of calculating beneficiary cost-sharing in the Medicare Part D program. West Health shares CMS’ goal of reducing beneficiary cost-sharing and better spreading the net cost of drugs across premiums, the… Read more »

Letter to Senator Dodd on the California Connectivity Act (SB 556)

Posted June 29, 2021

Read the Gary and Mary West Health Institute’s letter supporting SB 556, which will bring California into accordance with existing federal and state laws seeking to accelerate the implementation of broadband infrastructure.

Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee and Philanthropic Partners Support Governor’s 2021-22 May Revise

Posted May 21, 2021

May 21, 2021 The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor State of California Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: May Revision: Investments in the Master Plan for Aging Dear Governor Newsom, We, the undersigned individuals who served on the Master Plan for Aging’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee, as well as supporting philanthropic partners, would like to express our gratitude for… Read more »

Letter to Congressional Leadership Calling for Hospital Contracting Reform

Posted December 18, 2020

In addition to the primary goal of protecting patients from surprise medical bills, we are writing to ensure that any surprise billing legislation that is included in the end-of-year package contain hospital contracting reform as proposed in the Lower Health Care Costs Act.

Letter to Reauthorize Older Americans Act (OAA)

Posted December 2, 2019

On behalf of the Gary and Mary West Health Institute (WHI), I am writing to thank you and your staff for your tireless efforts to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA).

Letter to Ways & Means Committee hearing, “Caring for Aging Americans”

Posted November 25, 2019

On behalf of West Health, I am pleased to submit written comments for the Ways & Means Committee hearing held on November 14, 2019, entitled “Caring for Aging Americans.”

Letter to Chairs and Members of the California State Assembly Budget Conference Committee

Posted June 5, 2019

Read the Gary and Mary West Health Institute’s letter supporting a proposal to require the California Department of Health Care Services to seek three-year federal approval of the State Plan Amendment to continue Proposition 56 supplemental rate increases.

Clarifying the intent of the Virtual Dental

Posted April 29, 2019

April 29, 2019 Senator Richard Pan, Chair Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services State Capitol, Room 5019 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: Clarifying the intent of the Virtual Dental Home (AB 1174 enacted in 2014) in the 2019-2020 California State Budget Honorable Senator Pan, I am writing on behalf of the Gary and… Read more »

Letter to the California State Assembly Committee on Health about Assembly Bill 316

Posted March 15, 2019

Read the Gary and Mary West Health Institute’s letter supporting AB 316, which aims to permanently expand access to dental care for California’s low-income children and adults living with chronic medical, mental, behavioral or developmental conditions and disabilities.

Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Comments for the 2020 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health

Posted February 4, 2019

Read comments from Karen Becerra, chief executive officer of the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center, to the authors of the forthcoming U.S. Surgeon General’s report on oral health in America.