Alliance Legislative Summary & Status 1/28/2012

Access/Health Insurance Coverage:

AB 1602	AUTHOR:	John A. Perez D [Dist. 46]
	TITLE:	California Health Benefit Exchange.
	SUMMARY:	Would enact the California Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and would, contingent on the enactment of SB 900, which would create the California Health Benefit Exchange (the Exchange), specify the powers and duties of the board governing the Exchange relative to determining eligibility for enrollment in the Exchange and arranging for coverage under qualified health plans, and would require the board to facilitate the purchase of qualified health plans through the Exchange by qualified individuals and qualified small employers by January 1, 2014. The bill would create the California Health Trust Fund as a continuously appropriated fund and would make the implementation of these provisions contingent on a determination by the board that sufficient financial resources exist or will exist in the fund, as specified. The bill would enact other related provisions. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-A. CHAPTERED
		9/30/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 655, Statutes of 2010

AB 2244	AUTHOR:	Feuer D [Dist. 42]
	TITLE:	Health care coverage.
	SUMMARY:	Would prohibit the exclusion or limitation of coverage for children due to any precurrent condition, except as specified. The bill would further require plans and insurers offering coverage in the individual market to offer coverage for a child subject to specified requirements. The bill would prescribe limits on the rates that may be imposed for coverage of a child depending on, among other things, whether the child applies for coverage during an open enrollment period, as defined, or is a late enrollee, as defined, and would, effective January 1, 2014, require plans and insurers to apply standard risk rates to child coverage, except as specified. The bill would prohibit a plan or carrier that does not or ceases to write new plan contracts or policies for children from offering new individual plan contracts or policies in this state for 5 years. The bill would authorize the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance to issue guidance for purposes of implementing these provisions. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-A. CHAPTERED
		9/30/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 656, Statutes of 2010

SB 56	AUTHOR:	Alquist D [Dist. 13]
	TITLE:	Health plans: joint ventures.
	SUMMARY:	Would authorize certain local initiative health plans, county-organized health plans, and the County Medical Services Program governing board to form joint ventures that consist of contractual relationships to pool risk or share networks, or both, or to provide for the joint or coordinated offering of health plans to individuals and groups. The bill would require all joint ventures established pursuant to the above provisions to meet all of the requirements of the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975.
	STATUS:	9/29/2010-S. VETOED
		9/29/2010-Vetoed by the Governor

SB 810	AUTHOR:	Leno D [Dist. 3]
	TITLE:	Single-payer health care coverage.
	SUMMARY:	Would establish the California Healthcare System to be administered by the newly created California Healthcare Agency under the control of a Healthcare Commissioner appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The bill would make all California residents eligible for specified health care benefits under the California Healthcare System, which would, on a single-payer basis, negotiate for or set fees for health care services provided through the system and pay claims for those services. The bill would provide that a resident of the state with a household income, as specified, at or below 200% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for the type of benefits provided under the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the commissioner to seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation to allow various current federal, state, and local health care payments to be paid to the California Healthcare System, which would then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for with those funds. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	10/7/2010-A. THIRD READING
		10/6/2010-Action From THIRD READING: To THIRD READING.

SB 890	AUTHOR:	Alquist D [Dist. 13]
	TITLE:	Health care coverage.
	SUMMARY:	Would eliminate the 18-month requirement and would require plans and insurers to allow an individual to transfer to another individual contract or policy without medical underwriting on the annual renewal date of his or her contract or policy. Commencing July 1, 2011, the bill would require plans and insurers to categorize all products offered in the individual market into 5 tiers according to actuarial value, as specified, and would require plans and insurers to disclose this value and other information in certain disclosure forms. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-S. VETOED
		9/30/2010-Vetoed by the Governor

SB 900	AUTHOR:	Alquist D [Dist. 13]
	TITLE:	California Health Benefit Exchange.
	SUMMARY:	Would, contingent on the enactment and operation of AB 1602, establish the California Health Benefit Exchange (the Exchange) within state government. The bill would require the Exchange to be governed by a board composed of the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, or his or her designee, and 4 other members appointed by the Governor and the Legislature in a specified manner and would enact other related provisions with respect to the governance of the Exchange. The bill would also require the board of the exchange, or the California Health and Human Services Agency, if a majority of the board has not been appointed, to apply for and receive federal funds for purposes of establishing the Exchange. This bill contains other related provisions.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-S. CHAPTERED
		9/30/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 659, Statutes of 2010

SB 1088	AUTHOR:	Price D [Dist. 26]
	TITLE:	Health care coverage: dependents.
	SUMMARY:	Would prohibit the limiting age for dependent children covered by health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies from being less than 26 years of age with respect to plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010, except for certain group contracts and policies for plan or policy years beginning before January 1, 2014, as specified. The bill would require plans and insurers to provide certain dependents who have lost or been denied coverage an opportunity to enroll, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-S. CHAPTERED
		9/30/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 660, Statutes of 2010

Community Health/Eco Justice:

SCR 77	AUTHOR:	Correa D [Dist. 34]
	TITLE:	Childhood Obesity Prevention and Fitness Week.
	SUMMARY:	This measure would proclaim the last full week in September in each year as Childhood Obesity Prevention and Fitness Week, and would express the Legislature's support of various programs that work to reduce obesity and increase exercise among children.
	STATUS:	8/17/2010-S. CHAPTERED
		8/17/2010-Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter No. 82, Statutes of 2010

End of Life/Palliative Care:

AB 950	AUTHOR:	Hernandez D [Dist. 57]
	TITLE:	Hospice providers: licensed hospice facilities.
	SUMMARY:	Would create a new health facility licensing category for, and would require the State Department of Public Health to develop regulations governing licensure of, hospice facilities, as defined. It would impose various requirements on these facilities. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	8/31/2010-S. DEAD
		8/31/2010-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was APPR. on 8/12/2010)

Hospital Funding:

AB 342	AUTHOR:	John A. Perez D [Dist. 46]
	TITLE:	Medi-Cal: demonstration project waivers.
	SUMMARY:	Would, alternatively, authorize the director to continue and administer any extensions, modifications, or continuation of the projects under the Health Care Coverage Initiative approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	10/19/2010-A. CHAPTERED
		10/19/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 723, Statutes of 2010

AB 1653	AUTHOR:	Jones D [Dist. 9]
	TITLE:	Medi-Cal: hospitals: managed health care plans: mental health plans: quality assurance fee.
	SUMMARY:	Current law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which basic health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions. This bill would make various changes to the formulas used to determine the amount of supplemental payments made to private and designated public hospitals. This bill would expand the definition of a nondesignated public hospital. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/8/2010-A. CHAPTERED
		9/8/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 218, Statutes of 2010

SB 208	AUTHOR:	Steinberg D [Dist. 6]
	TITLE:	Medi-Cal.
	SUMMARY:	Would, except under specified circumstances, permit the advisory committee to request in writing and receive final reports submitted to the department by any managed care health plan operating in Sacramento County. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	10/19/2010-S. CHAPTERED
		10/19/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 714, Statutes of 2010

Medical Staff:

AB 1235	AUTHOR:	Hayashi D [Dist. 18]
	TITLE:	Healing arts: peer review.
	SUMMARY:	Current law provides for the professional review of specified healing arts licentiates through a peer review process conducted by peer review bodies, as defined. This bill would encourage a peer review body to obtain external peer review, as defined, for the evaluation or investigation of an applicant, privilegeholder, or member of the medical staff in specified circumstances. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-A. VETOED
		9/30/2010-Vetoed by the Governor

SB 700	AUTHOR:	Negrete McLeod D [Dist. 32]
	TITLE:	Healing arts: peer review.
	SUMMARY:	Current law provides for the professional review of specified healing arts licentiates through a peer review process. This bill would define the term "peer review" for purposes of those provisions. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/29/2010-S. CHAPTERED
		9/29/2010-Chaptered by the Secretary of State, Chapter Number 505, Statutes of 2010

SB 726	AUTHOR:	Ashburn R [Dist. 18]
	TITLE:	Health care districts: rural hospitals: employment of physicians and surgeons.
	SUMMARY:	Would revise the pilot project to authorize the direct employment by qualified health care districts and qualified rural hospitals, as defined, of an unlimited number of physicians and surgeons under the pilot project, and would authorize such a district or hospital to employ up to 5 physicians and surgeons at a time if certain requirements are met. The bill would require that the term of a contract with a physician and surgeon not exceed 10 years and would extend the pilot project until January 1, 2018. The bill would require the board to provide a preliminary report to the Legislature not later than July 1, 2013, and a final report not later than July 1, 2016, evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot project, and would make conforming changes.
	STATUS:	8/31/2010-S. DEAD
		8/31/2010-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was B., P. & E.D. on 8/20/2010)

NonProfit Hospitals:

SB 364	AUTHOR:	Florez D [Dist. 16]
	TITLE:	Health facilities: Joint Task Force on Hospital Conversion and Patient Care.
	SUMMARY:	Would prohibit an officer, director, or member of a governing board of a general acute care hospital that is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center and that accepts state funds from holding a position as an officer, director, or member of a governing board of a corporation that either manufactures or sells tobacco products, as defined, or that has, within the past 5 years, violated federal or state controlled substances laws or regulations . By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	8/31/2010-A. DEAD
		8/31/2010-Failed Deadline pursuant to Rule 61(b)(17). (Last location was APPR. on 8/12/2010)

Seismic:

SB 289	AUTHOR:	Ducheny D [Dist. 40]
	TITLE:	Hospitals: seismic safety.
	SUMMARY:	Would require an individual or entity, that seeks initial approval to operate or manage a general acute care hospital, to file with the department, and provide to other specified entities, a statement that describes the plan for the hospital to comply with the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983, as specified. This bill would also require a person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency desiring a license for a general acute care hospital, to file with the department a statement that it has complied with the requirements of the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act of 1983 and has received approval pursuant to that act. The bill would prohibit the department from issuing the license until this requirement is satisfied. This bill contains other related provisions and other current laws.
	STATUS:	9/30/2010-S. VETOED
		9/30/2010-Vetoed by the Governor

Total Measures: 17

Total Tracking Forms: 17