While healthcare in California has seen massive investments in coverage and access, these gains often mean little to border residents who split time, family, or even residency across two countries.
On the other side, private providers in Baja California frequently serve US citizens, especially for dental, vision, or urgent care services, at dramatically lower prices. Still, there's no mechanism to formally integrate or reimburse these services within our system.
It’s not that people aren't seeking care. It’s that the system wasn’t built to reflect how people actually live in border regions.
The Push for a Binational Healthcare Pathway
This is where AB 955, the Cross-Border Healthcare Implementation Act, comes in. The bill was introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez, who represents the border-straddling 80th District.
The bill proposes something rare: policy that acknowledges the practical reality of binational living.
AB 955 would authorize California to partner with certified Mexican healthcare providers, licensed, accredited, and vetted to US standards, to offer approved medical services to California residents.
Whether through full-service hospitals or contract-based providers, the bill seeks to build a regulated, accessible cross-border healthcare network.
Bipartisan Backing for a Binational Issue
This isn’t just another proposal – it’s one that could generate significant bipartisan, if not universal, consensus.
Earlier this month, AB 955 passed the Assembly Health Committee in a unanimous 16-0 vote, with support from Democrats and Republicans alike. In a time when agreement on even basic public health issues can feel elusive, this level of consensus is notable.
The bill also reflects the cumulative work of legislators from across California, whose focus areas align with the goals of AB 955, even if they don’t all represent border districts:
Former Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), for example, has long advocated for California-Mexico collaboration, coauthoring legislation to support the Border Relations Council, which includes healthcare policy. His district includes Imperial County, where cross-border health access is a day-to-day necessity.
State Senator Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) represents rural Northern California, not a border region, but her advocacy for flexible licensing, rural health access, and provider pipelines mirrors the infrastructure needs AB 955 tries to solve on the border.
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) has supported community clinic integration and maternal health equity. Her interest in mobile and community-based delivery models aligns with potential cross-border care delivery approaches.
Together with Alvarez, these legislators bring regional credibility and legislative experience to a conversation that transcends geography and ideology.
When Reality Meets Reform
This isn’t just about cheaper dental care or faster urgent care access. It’s about recognizing how modern communities function and updating our laws to reflect that reality.
Healthcare is deeply personal – but policy doesn’t have to be impersonal. When lawmakers can come together, regardless of party or zip code, to address the real-world needs of their constituents, that’s when democracy actually works.
AB 955 is still making its way through the legislature. But with this kind of bipartisan momentum, and a legislative team that reflects California’s diversity, it just might be the breakthrough border residents have been waiting for.
Editorial Note (May 5, 2025):
While AB 955 introduces a new framework for cross-border healthcare, it’s important to note that Mexican prepaid health plans already exist and are licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). These plans are exempt from many state-level patient protections under the Knox-Keene Act, including standards for timely access to care, network adequacy, grievance processes, and quality oversight.
DMHC has also reported compliance issues, particularly involving denied emergency care reimbursements at U.S. hospitals. If AB 955 leads to expanded cross-border coverage, it will be essential to hold participating plans to the same standards of care and oversight required of other California health plans to ensure patient protection.