By Donna Westfall -February 8, 2017 Speaker Anthony Rendon announced the reappointment of Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) as chair of the Assembly Health Committee in late December. Wood said, “I am grateful to be given the privilege of continuing to serve as chair of the Assembly Health Committee,” said Wood. “We tackled some difficult issues last session, and working with our colleagues from across the aisle, we tightened restrictions on the sale of tobacco to young people, protected consumers from unwarranted billing when receiving care from in-network health care providers, increased children’s access to preventive health care and mental health services, improved access to investigational drugs for seriously ill patients and improved food safety, to name a few.” Assemblyman Wood helped pass AB 72 which goes into effect July 1, 2017. This applies to emergency room billing. Imagine having to tackle a health problem in an emergency room setting and then find out that your insurance carrier isn't paying as much as you thought they would. This bill makes it possible that out-of-network or noncontracting individual health professionals would be paid as if they were in-network. The difference between in-network and out-of-network can amount to substantial dollars. Wood represents the 2nd Assembly District, which includes all of Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt and Mendocino counties, plus northern and coastal Sonoma County, including the northern half of Santa Rosa. This evening, Supervisor 5th District, Bob Berkowitz, will be meeting with Assemblyman Wood in Sacramento. Supervisor 1st District, Roger Gitlin, will be taking over "It's Your Turn" at Fisherman's Restaurant meeting Thursday and Friday, February 9th and 10th still starting at 6 am.