Michael Hiltzik: Single-payer health care is the right system. Can California build it on its own?

California, which has shown the determination to go it alone in areas such as environmental protection, scientific research and workers' rights when its values conflict with policies at the federal level, is moving forward with its most audacious effort yet.

That's a plan to create a universal single-payer health care system.

Called CalCare, the program would take over health coverage for more than 40 million residents from government policies such as Medicare and Medicaid and from private plans whether sponsored by employers or purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

This would mean placing $400 billion in annual expenditures in the hands of a state governing board. Say goodbye to the dead hand of private health insurers, to navigating in-network and out-of-network charges, to deductibles and co-pays, to substandard dental, vision and hearing services. Every resident of the state, regardless of where they get their their coverage now, would be eligible for the new system.

At least, that's the promise. Whether the Legislature will be able to bring this idea to fruition is anyone's guess.

Under its rules, the measure embodying the program, AB 1400, must be sent by Jan. 31 from the Assembly