Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, under the administration of community college district governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate. Existing law establishes a statewide baccalaureate degree program that authorizes up to a total of 30 baccalaureate degree programs at community college districts to be approved per academic year, as provided. This bill would require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program that authorizes select community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The bill would limit the pilot program to 10 community college districts statewide and would require the chancellor's office to identify and select eligible community college districts based on specified criteria. The bill would require the chancellor's office to develop a process designed to assist community college districts with nursing programs that are applying for national accreditation for the purpose of qualifying for the pilot program, as provided. The bill would require each participating community college district to give priority registration for enrollment in the pilot program to students with an associate degree in nursing from that community college district. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the program and the need to continue or expand the program, as specified, to be submitted to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2034. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2036.
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's requirements a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan to notify an enrollee by United States mail at least 60 days before the termination date of a contract between a health care service plan and a provider group or a general acute care hospital to which the enrollee is assigned. If the plan reaches an agreement with a terminated provider after sending that notice, existing law requires the plan to offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider and to reassign the enrollee to another provider if the enrollee does not exercise that option. This bill would additionally require a health care service plan to notify an enrollee by email or text message, as specified and only if the enrollee has opted in and provided their contact information, at least 60 days before the termination date of a contract between a health care service plan and a provider group or a general acute care hospital to which the enrollee is assigned. If the plan reaches an agreement with a terminating or terminated provider after sending the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to send written notice by United States mail and by email or text message, as specified and only if the enrollee has opted in and provided their contact information, to affected enrollees no later than 10 business days after department approval of the notice. If the agreement is to renew, enter into a new contract, or to not terminate their contract before the termination date in the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to notify enrollees that they will remain assigned to the provider. If the agreement is to renew, enter into a new contract, or to not terminate their contract after the termination date in the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to notify and offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider. The bill would require a health care service plan to submit these notices to the department for approval within 5 business days of reaching an agreement. Because a willful violation of these provisions would be a crime, this 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 measure would recognize and affirm the important role of artists, arts organizations, creative arts therapists, and arts for health initiatives in supporting behavioral health, promoting recovery, strengthening community resilience, and contributing to public safety. The measure would encourage and recognize exploration, support, and integration of arts and behavioral health within California's health care, behavioral health, and community-based systems.
This measure would recognize that sudden cardiac arrest is a critical issue facing student athletes and provide that the Legislature supports the important work nonprofit organizations are doing to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, increase preventative screenings, and reduce the number of cases.
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 through fee-for-service (FFS) or managed care delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, pharmacist services are a benefit under the Medi-Cal program, subject to federal approval, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to provide and administer Medi-Cal pharmacy services under a single statewide FFS delivery system, commonly known as the Medi-Cal Rx program. The department has implemented a transition of Medi-Cal pharmacy services, through Medi-Cal Rx, from managed care to FFS as a result of a 2019 executive order by the Governor. This bill would require the department to issue guidance clarifying Medi-Cal managed care plan obligations to cover pharmacist services, as specified. The bill would require the department to update its model evidence of coverage to explicitly include coverage of pharmacist services. The bill would also require the department to take appropriate corrective action for failure to comply with existing provisions of law relating to Medi-Cal coverage of pharmacist services or the issued guidance. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-plan letters, plan letters, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory action.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which health care services are provided to low-income individuals pursuant to a schedule of benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, pharmacist services are a benefit under the Medi-Cal program, subject to federal approval, and the rate of reimbursement for pharmacist services is 85% of the fee schedule for physician services, except for medication therapy management (MTM) pharmacist services. Existing law requires the department to implement an MTM reimbursement methodology relating to the dispensing of qualified specialty drugs by an eligible contracting pharmacy, which would be intended to supplement Medi-Cal payments to eligible pharmacies for MTM pharmacist services provided in conjunction with certain specialty drug therapy categories. This bill would additionally require the rate of reimbursement for advanced pharmacist practitioner services to be no less than 85% of the fee schedule for physician services, including MTM pharmacist services. The bill would, subject to, among other things, federal approval, require advanced pharmacist practitioners to be recognized as health care providers at federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics for reimbursement purposes under the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the department to implement an MTM reimbursement methodology relating to the use of drugs to ensure that Medi-Cal payments are only made to eligible advanced pharmacist practitioners or pharmacies, including those operating at federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics, for MTM pharmacist services provided in conjunction with certain specialty drug therapy categories. 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 requires a health care service plan or disability insurer that offers coverage for pharmacist services to pay or reimburse the cost of the service performed by a pharmacist at an in-network pharmacy or a pharmacist at an out-of-network pharmacy if the insurer has an out-of-network pharmacy benefit. Existing law authorizes this payment or reimbursement when specified conditions are met, including that the coverage otherwise provides reimbursement for identical services performed by other licensed health care providers. This bill would additionally require those health care service plans and disability insurers to pay or reimburse the cost of the service performed by a pharmacist enrolled as a provider with the plan or insurer. The bill would specify for these purposes that a pharmacist includes pharmacists who provide services at a federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic. The bill would authorize payment or reimbursement if the coverage otherwise provides reimbursement for similar services performed by other licensed health care providers, among other requirements. Because a willful violation of the bill's requirements relative to health care service plans 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.
Under existing law, when a person, as a result of a mental disorder, is a danger to others or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, they may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody for a period of up to 72 hours for assessment, evaluation, and crisis intervention, or placement for evaluation and treatment, as specified. Existing law prohibits mental health personnel from instructing a peace officer to take a person to, or keep the person at, a jail, solely because of the unavailability of an acute bed. This bill would require a peace officer who is transporting the above-described person to a designated facility for assessment to transport the person to the closest appropriate designated facility, either geographically or by time, from where the peace officer took the person into custody, as specified. If a person is being transported by a peace officer to a designated facility for assessment, the bill would authorize the person to affirmatively express their preference to the peace officer regarding the facility that they would prefer the peace officer to take them. By requiring a higher level of service from local law enforcement, this 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) , generally prohibits a provider of health care, a health care service plan, or a contractor from disclosing medical information regarding a patient, enrollee, or subscriber without first obtaining an authorization, unless a specified exception applies. Existing law makes a violation of the CMIA that results in economic loss or personal injury to a patient punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law requires specified businesses that electronically store or maintain medical information on the provision of sensitive services on behalf of a provider of health care, health care service plan, pharmaceutical company, contractor, or employer to develop capabilities, policies, and procedures, on or before July 1, 2024, to enable certain security features, including limiting user access privileges and segregating medical information related to gender affirming care, abortion and abortion-related services, and contraception, as specified. This bill would also require those specified businesses to enable the above-specified capabilities, policies, and procedures for those security features, as specified. Because the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime, it 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, 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 requires a health care service plan or health insurer to reimburse a complete claim or a portion thereof within 30 calendar days after receipt of the claim, or, if a claim or portion thereof does not meet the criteria for a complete claim or the criteria for coverage under the plan or insurance contract, to notify the claimant in writing that the claim or portion thereof is contested or denied as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 calendar days after receipt of the claim by the plan or insurer. This bill would, commencing May 26, 2028, require a plan or insurer to accept electronic medical records and supporting documentation necessary to process a claim through a standard electronic submission method, as specified, and would prohibit a plan or insurer from denying, pending, or delaying a claim solely because the plan's or insurer's systems are unable to accept documentation that otherwise meets the plan's or insurer's requirements. The bill would specify that if a state or federal standard is adopted that is specific to file size, number, or other capacity requirements for claims-related supporting documentation submissions, that standard would apply. 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 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 Department of Health Care Access and Information to oversee and administer various health programs, including, among others, the California Reproductive Health Equity Program. Under existing law, this program provides grant funding to safety net providers of abortion and contraception services to offset the costs of providing uncompensated care to patients with low incomes who would otherwise lack access to care. Existing law establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Fund, and, within the limits of funds available, authorizes the department to award grants that, in the department's judgment, best promote the purposes of the program. This bill would establish the Safe Delivery Fund Pilot Program, until January 1, 2030, which would be administered by the department to provide funding to hospitals to offset uncompensated standby costs associated with maintaining specialty physician coverage, advanced practice provider coverage, and hospital staffing necessary to safely provide deliveries and related inpatient specialty services. The bill would require a hospital to meet specified requirements to qualify for the program, including, among other things, that the hospital can demonstrate that the hospital serves a geographically isolated population and that loss of obstetric services would significantly impact access to maternity care. This bill would establish the Safe Delivery Fund, and would require moneys in the fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the purposes of the program. The bill would require the hospital to use the funds from the program for salaries, benefits, insurance, contracted physician compensation, contracted advanced practice provider compensation, or other expenses attributable to maintaining standby clinical capacity. The bill would require the program to reimburse a hospital quarterly based on the number of deliveries performed per day using a specified schedule. The bill would prohibit the department from awarding a hospital more than $5,000,000 per year. This bill would require a participating hospital, by April 1, 2027, and quarterly thereafter, to submit to the department specified data, including, among other things, maintenance of specialty staffing and service availability. The bill would authorize the department to conduct annual audits or program reviews, as specified. The bill would require a hospital to meet all of the program requirements for continued participation in the program.
