Golden State Today

Helping Californians have more control over their personal healthcare decisions, instead of having those decisions being determined by insurance companies, is why Julie Julie Gill Shuffield wanted to become the executive director for the newly-formed group, Patients Come First-California.

“Healthcare decisions should be between the patient and their medical providers and not decided by insurance and special interests,” Gill Shuffield told Golden State Today. “Personal autonomy in healthcare is facing challenges from all angles right now and I am excited to be a part of transforming the conversation to include the best interests of the patients.”

California was one of three states, including Missouri and New Jersey, in which Patients Come First groups launched in March, reported Golden State Today.

In addition to running her own firm, Sutter Buttes Advisors, Gill Shuffield also founded Power of 100 Sutter Buttes Basin, a charitable community women's group. She was named Woman of the Year by U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) in 2019. Gill Shuffield also previously worked as director of regulatory and government affairs at AES Corporation and in external affairs for California ISO.

Gill Shuffield said that being an advocate for patients is rooted in her being a mother.

“To be a mother is to be an advocate on behalf of someone who is vulnerable and needs a strong voice for effective care,” she said. “Getting access to specialists and medicines has too often been decided by special interests that are not focused on what is best for the patients and when it's your child, you will stop at nothing to get the care needed.”

“Stepping forward as an advocate through Patients Come First gives me a platform to fight for all patients and put them first,” Gill Shuffield said. 

The PCF website says it will “strive to put patients at the forefront of healthcare” through “advocacy, science, education, and collaboration” on issues including prescription drug payments and discounts, co-pay assistance, government drug price negotiations, and the federal 340b drug discount program, among others.

In addition to those issues, said Gill Shuffield, her group will focus on, “transparency, partnership building, and amplifying the voice of California patients to ensure that everyone has access to innovation, treatment, and prevention for a thriving California.”