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Health and Science

Controller Malia M. Cohen is a member of several health and science-related finance boards, providing oversight and financial perspective as the state’s chief fiscal officer.  As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Board, Controller Cohen has oversight over the second largest public employer health benefits purchaser in the nation after the federal government, contracting for health coverage for more than 1.4 million active and retired state, local government, and school employees and their families. Controller Cohen chairs the Citizens Financial Accountability Oversight Committee, charged with overseeing the performance and financial practices of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which allocates $3 billion in taxpayer dollars to fund stem cell research.  Controller Cohen also is a member of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority, which helps nonprofit and public health facilities reduce their costs and promote increased health access and cost containment with tax-exempt bond, low-cost loan, and direct grant programs. With shifting demographics as baby boomers age, Controller Cohen is focused on addressing the mounting costs of health care and long-term care for individual families as well as the state.