Patient Equity Coalition Announces Strong Coalition of Supporters For Lindalee’s Law (AB 1770)

AB 1770 Protects Patients Forced Into Healthcare Arbitration After HMOs Make Serious Errors; Supporters Include Public Health and Consumer Advocates, Labor, and Community Organizations

Sacramento – The Patient Equity Coalition today announced a wide list of supporters in their fight to pass Lindalee’s Law (AB 1770) authored by Assemblymember Robert Garcia (D-Rancho Cucamonga). AB 1770 protects patients forced into healthcare arbitration after a doctor or HMO makes a serious error. The bill has passed the Assembly and will be heard before the Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday, June 23.

“The wide group of supporters that Lindalee’s Law has generated is a testament that this is a fight worth having and it gives us wind at our backs as we advocate for the bill in the state Senate,” said Steve Martinez of the Patient Equity Coalition. “If Lindalee were alive today, I know she would be touched by the support from around California that this bill has attracted. Lindalee and I didn’t have an advocate in our corner when we were forced into a horrible arbitration process and AB 1770 would change that for future patients and healthcare consumers.”

“The wide group of supporters that Lindalee’s Law has generated is a testament that this is a fight worth having,” said Steve Martinez of the Patient Equity Coalition.  “Assemblymember Robert Garcia understood that and embraced the challenge. This growing coalition gives us wind at our backs as we advocate for the bill in the state Senate. If Lindalee were alive today, I know she would be touched by the support from around California that this bill has attracted. Lindalee and I were forced into a horrible arbitration process, completely ignored by state agencies. AB 1770 required DOJ oversight would change that for future patients and healthcare consumers.”

Currently, health consumers who have disputes with large health care plans are forced into an arbitration system where arbitrators are often financially dependent on repeat business from the very health care plans they are meant to be impartially judging. This tilts the scales in favor of the private health plans. Families who have experienced medical harm often endure multi-year delays and unethical tactics with no real advocate to turn to. 

Lindalee’s Law (AB 1770) mandates that the Attorney General oversee health care service plans to ensure the comply with the California Arbitration Act and requires that all arbitration claims be conducted pursuant to the code of Civil Procedure, which closes loopholes that allow plans to bypass standard safeguards. By empowering the DOJ, the bill specifically targets financial bias and unethical practices to restore neutrality in the medical arbitration process.

The list of supporters for AB 1770 includes:

Alameda County Democratic Party

Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Leadership

Asian Perinatal Advocate Family Support ServicesConsumer Attorneys of California

Black Women for Wellness

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

California Alliance

California Federation of Teachers

California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association 

California Low-Income Consumer Coalition

California Women’s Law Center

Consumer Watchdog 

Courage Campaign California

Friends Committee on Legislation of California

Healthy Black Families Inc.

Khmer Girls In Action

Multicultural Institute

Prevention Institute

AB 1770 will be heard before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

For more information on Lindalee’s Law: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1770

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For more information on the Patient Equity Coalition visit: https://www.patientequitycoalition.org