Healthcare

Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs under the direction of the Director of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the administration of the various boards, including the Medical Board of California, under its jurisdiction that license and regulate various professions and vocations. Existing law requires a board to expedite the licensure process for certain applicants, including an applicant who has a specified relationship with an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, as prescribed, and holds a current license in another state, district, or territory of the United States in the profession or vocation for which the applicant seeks a license from the board. Existing law establishes the Medical Board of California to enforce the licensing and regulatory provisions relating to physicians and surgeons. Existing law imposes various fees on applicants for licensure of physicians and surgeons, including an application and processing fee of $625 to be paid by an applicant for a certificate based on reciprocity, and an applicant for a certificate based upon written examination, as specified. Under existing law, all moneys paid to and received by the board are required to be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California. Existing law requires moneys in that fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, as provided. This bill would require the Medical Board of California to expedite the licensure process for an applicant who submits an application that is accompanied by, among other things, payment of an expedite fee fixed by the board at an amount equal to the cost of expediting the licensure process, not to exceed $250, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.

The Pharmacy Law requires the California State Board of Pharmacy within the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate the practice of pharmacy, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacies. The Pharmacy Law authorizes the board, during a declared federal, state, or local emergency, to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law or the regulations adopted pursuant to it, if, in the board's opinion, the waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. Existing law authorizes the board to elect to continue to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law for up to 90 days following the termination of a declared public emergency if, in the board's opinion, the continued waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. This bill would instead authorize the board to elect to continue to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law for up to 120 days following the termination of a declared emergency.

Existing law, the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act, defines and regulates consumer credit reports and consumer credit reporting agencies. The act prohibits a consumer credit reporting agency from making any consumer credit report containing specified items of information, including information about medical debt, as defined. Existing law prohibits a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using medical debt listed on the report as a negative factor when making a credit decision. This bill would prohibit a consumer credit reporting agency from making a consumer credit report containing information about the sale of property that is located in an area where the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency due to a natural disaster and the property is rendered uninhabitable as a result of the natural disaster. The bill would prohibit a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using the sale of an aforementioned property listed on the report as a negative factor when making a credit decision.

This measure would designate the week of March 16, 2025, to March 22, 2025, inclusive, as Family Physician Week, recognize the invaluable contributions of family physicians to California's health care system, and encourage continued investment in primary care to strengthen the family medicine workforce.

House Resolution 9 designates March 15, 2025, as Long COVID Awareness Day in California. The resolution highlights Long COVID - a condition involving persistent symptoms like fatigue and cognitive issues after initial COVID-19 infection - and urges public education, support for affected individuals, and continued vaccination efforts. It does not create new laws or requirements but serves as a symbolic recognition to foster awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage community engagement around Long COVID challenges. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on March 13, 2025.