Hospital acquired conditions.

Existing law establishes various programs for the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, including, but not limited to, the licensing and regulation of health facilities to be administered by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires specified health facilities to report patient adverse events to the department within 5 days. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would require the medical director and the director of nursing of a hospital to annually report adverse events and hospital acquired conditions to its governing board. By changing the definition of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to convene a technical working group to evaluate options for implementing nonpayment policies and practices for hospital acquired conditions for the Medi-Cal program, as specified. This bill would require the technical working group to provide the best options to the Director of Health Care Services, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, and the Legislature by February 1, 2011. This bill would also require the department to implement nonpayment policies and procedures for hospital acquired conditions for the Medi-Cal program, as specified. Existing law imposes various functions and duties on the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board with respect to the regulation and administration of various insurance programs, including the Healthy Families Program. This bill would require certain managed care plans contracting with the board to implement nonpayment policies and practices for hospital acquired conditions that are consistent with those adopted by the Medi-Cal program through their contracts with health care facilities, as defined. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.