Adrienne Verrilli

Communications veteran and public policy expert with 12 years in nonprofits. Covers women's health, healthcare, affordable housing, and environment. Former banker turned progressive advocate. Democrat. Based in San Francisco.

Open enrollment for California children with pre-existing conditions lasts through March 1

A key provision of the federal health care reform law prohibits health insurance companies from denying coverage to children suffering from asthma, diabetes, or other health conditions considered to be

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ February 14, 2011

Open enrollment for California children with pre-existing conditions lasts through March 1

College freshmen under severe stress

UCLA’s annual survey of college freshmen found that a record number of students rate their emotional health as “below average”. “The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2010” survey released

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ January 31, 2011

As UC system braces for $500 million in proposed budget cuts, regents award pay hikes

The University of California’s regents meeting last week stirred up quite a bit of controversy as the regents approved $4 million in bonuses and pay hikes for UC employees,

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ January 24, 2011

As UC system braces for $500 million in proposed budget cuts, regents award pay hikes

House Republicans plan to repeal health care reform, but have yet to offer specific alternative

This week, House Republicans will move forward with their efforts to pass HR 2, the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act” which effectively repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ January 17, 2011

House Republicans plan to repeal health care reform, but have yet to offer specific alternative

Governor Brown set to eliminate Secretary of Education post

As Californians await the release of Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget today, it was reported over the weekend that one of the Governor’s moves will be to eliminate

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ January 10, 2011

Governor Brown set to eliminate Secretary of Education post

Medicare currently on unsustainable financial path

Today’s Medicare beneficiaries are receiving far more in health care benefits than they contributed to the program through their payroll taxes, and current contributions are insufficient to sustain the

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ January 3, 2011

Medicare currently on unsustainable financial path

New health insurance law expected to help up to 1.5 million California children

On January 1, a new California law goes into effect that aims to expand health insurance coverage to 1.5 million of the state’s children. Earlier this year, California

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ December 27, 2010

New health insurance law expected to help up to 1.5 million California children

California K-12 public education facing a perfect storm

Governor-elect Jerry Brown met with Calfornia educators at UCLA last week for a state budget forum to discuss how to tackle Calfornia's $28 billion deficit. Promising to cut

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ December 20, 2010

California K-12 public education facing a perfect storm

Ten California counties receive grants to provide health insurance for low-income residents

While multiple provisions of the federal health care reform law have been enacted this year, health insurance still remains out-of-reach for thousands of low-income Californians. To help remedy the situation,

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ December 13, 2010

Ten California counties receive grants to provide health insurance for low-income residents

Two Californians testify in DC against limited, misleading health insurance plans

At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing last week, Senators examined health insurance plans that offer minimal coverage to millions of Americans known as "mini-med" as these plans will

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ December 6, 2010

Two Californians testify in DC against limited, misleading health insurance plans

California's stem cell research agency faces strong criticism

In what was seen by many as a rebuke of the Bush Administration's ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, California voters passed Proposition 71 in

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ November 29, 2010

California's stem cell research agency faces strong criticism

Medicare pay cut for doctors creates conundrum for Republicans

With the December 1 scheduled pay cut to doctors who serve Medicare patients looming, the Senate voted last week to postpone the planned 23 percent pay cut until January 1,

By Adrienne Verrilli

/ November 22, 2010

Medicare pay cut for doctors creates conundrum for Republicans