This bill designates June 9, 2026, as FSGS Awareness Day to highlight focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a rare kidney disease that causes scarring and can lead to kidney failure. The resolution aims to increase public understanding of the condition, which disproportionately affects African American communities and often requires dialysis or transplants. By establishing an official awareness day, the bill seeks to support patients and families while encouraging efforts to improve early diagnosis and access to specialized care.
This bill designates the week of May 25 to May 29 as Firefighter Mental Health Awareness Week. It directly affects the state by officially recognizing this specific time period to highlight the importance of mental health support for firefighters. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal proclamation to raise awareness about the topic. Once enacted, it becomes part of the state statutes as a commemorative resolution.
This measure would recognize May 4, 2026, to May 8, 2026, inclusive, and every first full week of May thereafter, as Black Health Equity Advocacy Week and commend the California Black Health Network and other organizations throughout the state for their efforts to improve the health, well-being, and life expectancy of Black Californians.
Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, establishes the Physical Therapy Board of California to license and regulate physical therapists and the practice of physical therapy. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law defines the terms "physical therapist," "physical therapist assistant," and "physical therapy" and sets forth the scope of practice of a physical therapist. Existing law authorizes only a licensed physical therapist to use the title "physical therapist" or the letters "P.T." or any other words, letters, or figures indicating that the person is a licensed physical therapist. Existing law requires the board to define those doctoral degrees that are in a related health science for specified provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act. Existing law authorizes a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or, after the adoption of the above-described definition by the board, a doctoral degree in a related health science to, among other things, use the initials "DPT," "PhD," or "EdD", as applicable, in a written communication following the licensee's name. Existing regulations define a physical therapy related health science for the purpose of the above-described authorization to include, among other things, biology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology. This bill, among other changes to the act, would redefine "physical therapy," "physical therapist," and "physical therapist assistant" for purposes of the act, as specified. The bill would, among other things, prohibit the use of any words, abbreviation, or insignia implying that physical therapy is provided unless those services are provided by or under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. The bill would delete the requirement on the board to define the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science described above and would update those provisions to, instead, specify that the doctoral degrees in a related health science are those specified by the board in regulation. The bill would additionally authorize a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or a related health science to use the initials "DSc", as applicable, following the licensee's name. This bill would delete existing requirements for the performance of tissue penetration by a physical therapist and instead would include within the practice of physical therapy the use of electrode needles to perform tissue penetration for the purpose of evaluating and interpreting performance of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Existing law prohibits a physical therapist from supervising more than 2 physical therapist assistants at one time and establishes conditions for the initiation of services by a physical therapist directly, including providing a specified notice, orally and in writing, to a patient that is signed by the patient. This bill would increase the number of physical therapist assistants a physical therapist is authorized to supervise from 2 to 3. The bill would require a physical therapist to refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed health care provider when the situation or condition of the patient is beyond the scope of the education and training of the physical therapist. The bill would repeal the notice and other requirements for the provision of direct physical therapy treatment services. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
This bill designates May 2026 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight the importance of mental health support for mothers. It serves as a symbolic proclamation rather than a law that changes regulations or imposes new requirements. The measure directly affects state officials who will recognize the month and may encourage public awareness campaigns during that time.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including certain dental services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under the Medi-Cal Dental Provider Handbook, the maximum allowance for a house/extended care facility call under a specified billing code is $20. This bill would require the department to increase the Medi-Cal reimbursement base rate for a house/extended care facility call in order to reflect the reasonable travel costs for purposes of delivering dental services in the patient's private residence or applicable facility instead of the location of the dental provider. The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on an appropriation, receipt of any necessary federal approvals, and the availability of federal financial participation.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law requires a full service health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or its delegate, to subscribe to and use the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare credentialing form on and after January 1, 2028. On and after January 1, 2027, existing law requires a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or its delegate, that credentials health care providers for its networks to make a determination regarding the credentials of a provider within 90 days after receiving a completed provider credentialing application. This bill would extend the application of the above-described requirements to Medi-Cal managed care plans. Because a willful violation of these requirements by a Medi-Cal managed care plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
Existing law provides for the licensure of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities, and the certification of alcohol or other drug programs, by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law requires the department to develop and maintain a centralized indicator data collection system that gathers and obtains information on the status of alcohol and other drug problems in the state, and requires the information to include, among other things, the number and characteristics of persons receiving recovery or treatment services from alcohol and other drug programs providing publicly funded services or services licensed by the state. Existing data collection systems developed by the department, known as the California Outcomes Measurement System Treatment and Drug and the Alcohol Treatment Access Report, collect data for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services and SUD treatment capacity from specified treatment providers. This bill would require the above-described facilities and programs, commencing on January 1, 2028, to submit to the department certain data, including, treatment and outcome information and treatment availability information consistent with the requirements of the California Outcomes Measurement System Treatment and the Drug and the Alcohol Treatment Access Report. The bill would not apply to an entity that is contracted to provide Medi-Cal treatment services or contracted with the department, among others, and would clarify that these provisions do not impose additional or new reporting requirements on an entity that reports data to the department through the California Outcomes Measurement System Treatment and the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Access Report.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law sets forth requirements by which a health care service plan or health insurer reimburses a provider for health care services. This bill would require a determination to downcode a claim, which is the unilateral alteration by a payer of the service or procedure code submitted on a claim resulting in a lower payment, to include a documented review of the clinical information supporting the billed service. The bill would set forth requirements for and limitations of downcoding decisions, and, if a claim is downcoded, would require a plan or insurer to provide a billing provider with specified information and a clear and accessible process for disputing downcoded claims. The bill would prohibit a plan or insurer from using downcoding practices in a targeted or discriminatory manner against physicians or other health care providers who routinely treat patients with high acuity, complex, or chronic conditions, and would authorize the departments to take action against a plan or insurer that engages in a pattern or practice of discriminatory downcoding or that otherwise violates these provisions. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the departments to collect data on coding and claims adjustment practices, evaluate the information, and submit a report with specified information to the Legislature. 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.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including dental care, as specified. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. This bill would make behavior management and desensitization services without an accompanying dental procedure covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program, subject to utilization controls, when a patient's physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition requires significant extra time, attention, or personnel, or requires such services preceding a dental visit, respectively, in order to safely deliver dental care. The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on the availability of federal financial participation and any necessary federal approvals having been obtained. The bill would, notwithstanding any other law, authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions without taking any further regulatory action.
