Economic impacts of key health reform plans

The report, "Health Coverage Proposals in California: Impact on Businesses," which was authored by researchers at UC Berkeley's Center for Labor Research and Education, analyzes Gov. Schwarzenegger's health care reform proposal and Assembly Bill 8 (AB 8). The researchers also say that the state could see an infusion of between $1.2 billion to $3.7 billion in new federal Medicaid matching funds to expand coverage to children and low-income parents, as well as a reduction of between $1.4 billion and $3.4 billion in employee and employer federal tax payments. Their report says both health reform packages would boost productivity as workers take off fewer sick days.