Legislature Concludes Weeklong Floor Only Session
Today marks the deadline for the California Legislature to pass all bills out of their house of origin. Both houses maintained a significant bill load, working their way through over 80 bills each day this week. While some bills met their fate in their house of origin this week, many more were advanced onto the next chamber.
Below we highlight significant actions of interest to CHEAC Members. For a full update, our CHEAC Weekly Bill Chart is available here.
Access to Health Services
SB 1125 (Atkins) as amended on May 25, 2018 – Support
SB 1125 by Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins was advanced from the Senate to the Assembly this week. The measure would authorize Medi-Cal reimbursement to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health centers (RHCs) for a maximum of two visits on the same day at a single location if the patient has a medical visit and a mental health or dental visit. SB 1125 is sponsored by California Health+ Advocates and the Steinberg Institute.
Health Coverage/Health Care Reform
AB 2430 (Arambula) as revised on April 4, 2018 – Support
Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula’s AB 2430, which would increase Medi-Cal eligibility for seniors and disabled individuals up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) was advanced from the Assembly to the Senate. This measure would create consistency in eligibility for these individuals, and the measure is part of the package of measures by the Assembly Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage. Funding for this expansion is included in the Assembly’s budget and is included as a Budget Conference Committee item.
AB 2965 (Arambula) as amended on May 25, 2018 – Support
AB 2965 by Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula was scaled back last week to move the measure from the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File. The measure initially would have expanded Medi-Cal to all undocumented adults with incomes at or below 138 percent FPL, but it was amended to narrow Medi-Cal eligibility to undocumented adults under 26 years of age with incomes at or below 138 percent FPL. This amendment conforms to the budget proposal approved by the Assembly Budget Committee and is included as a Budget Conference Committee item. AB 2965 was advanced from the Assembly to the Senate.
SB 974 (Lara) as amended on May 25, 2018 – Support
Senator Ricardo Lara’s SB 974 was similarly narrowed last week to move the measure from the Senate Appropriations Suspense File. Originally proposing to expand Medi-Cal to all undocumented adults with incomes at or below 138 percent FPL, SB 974 would now expand eligibility to undocumented adults 65 years of age and older with incomes at or below 138 FPL. This amendment also conforms to the budget proposal recently passed by the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and is also included as a Budget Conference Committee item. SB 974 was advanced from the Senate to Assembly this week.
SB 945 (Atkins) as introduced on January 29, 2018 – Support
SB 945 by Senate President pro Tempore was advanced from the Senate to the Assembly this week. The measure would eliminate the coverage period currently in place in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP) and would instead require treatment services to be provided for the duration of treatment as long as the individual remains eligible for the program. A corresponding budget request was included in the Senate’s budget and is now included as a Budget Conference Committee item.
Tobacco Control
SB 835 (Glazer) as amended on March 20, 2018 – Support
SB 836 (Glazer) as amended on May 15, 2018 – Support
Both SB 835 and SB 836 by Senator Steven Glazer were advanced from the Senate to the Assembly this week. SB 835 would ban smoking and disposal of cigar and cigarette waste at all state parks. SB 836 would ban the same at all state coastal beaches. CHEAC supports both measures to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco products.