FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
June 2, 2026  
Contact: Jack Cardinal, jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org   

BOSTON, MA — Community Catalyst, the nation’s leading health justice advocacy organization, today issued a formal response to the Senate Democrats’ release of a “framework” on healthcare reform to address the affordability crisis plaguing families nationwide. The recommendations center the organization’s mission to create a health system that is affordable, accessible and accountable to the communities it serves. 

“We appreciate getting insight into how some of our leaders view the next generation of meaningful healthcare reform in this country,” said Shaina Goodman, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Community Catalyst. “It’s a good start that will hopefully be more than a campaign talking point. In truth, there is overwhelming support among the public across the political spectrum to address high healthcare costs as well as the policies that would do so.”     

Building on community and state solutions the organization is cocreating and implementing across its vast partner network, Community Catalyst has identified key areas to strengthen in the proposal, including: 

  • Following the lead of 17 states and establishing a federal reinsurance program which has proven to lower premiums 10-20%; 
  • Lowering out-of-pocket costs for people who buy their own insurance by increasing tax credits and raising the standards for health insurance plans sold to consumers; 
  • Creating a standard government plan for individuals and small businesses and/or allowing people to purchase Medicaid insurance; 
  • Financially incentivizing the remaining 10 states to close the Medicaid coverage gap; 
  • Offering health insurance to people regardless of immigration status and without waiting periods; 
  • Strengthening oversight of proposed healthcare consolidation and mergers which weaken competition and drive-up costs on patients; and 
  • Reducing health insurers’ practice of needing prior authorization which is often used to blanketly deny necessarily healthcare. 

Additionally, the organization identified key gaps in the framework and is urging consideration of: 

  • Protecting people from medical debt by broadening access to financial assistance and protecting people from wage garnishments and service denials due to medical debt; 
  • Mandating coverage of home supports for older adults and people with disabilities as well as dental, vision, hearing coverage for all; 
  • Expanding the healthcare workforce to support practitioners like dental therapists and doulas to address disparities; 
  • Undoing harmful changes to Medicaid, including rolling back changes to eligibility, restoring longer retroactive coverage windows, and eliminating bureaucratic enrollment barriers; and 
  • Increasing enrollment funding and support so people understand their health insurance options and know how to enroll. 

With over 350 health advocacy partners in over 45 states, Community Catalyst is continually supporting the development and implementation of health care reform at the state and local level that can inform federal changes. The state to federal reform pipeline is key to the organization’s plan to reshape the healthcare system.  
 

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About Community Catalyst  
Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for racial equity and health justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and healthcare are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.