New 2013 California Laws of Interest to Physicians January 14, 2013 Advocacy, CMA, Politics and Medicine AB 1083, Ab 137, AB 589, medical school scholarships, 2013 California laws, AB 1301 0 The California Legislature had an active year passing many new laws affecting health care. In particular, the Legislature passed bills pertaining to public health, health care coverage, workers' compensation and scope of practice. Click here for an extensive list of the many significant new health laws of interest to physicians. Some of the notable legislation include: AB 589 (Perea) – Medical School Scholarships SFMS/CMA Position: Sponsor Establishes the Steven M. Thompson Medical School Scholarship Program within the Health Professions Education Foundation to promote the education of medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy. Provides up to a specified sum per recipient in scholarships to selected participants who agree in writing prior to completing an accredited medical or osteopathic school based in the United States to serve in an eligible setting. Establishes a related account within the Health Professions Education Fund. (Health & Safety Code add Article 6, commencing with §128560, to Chapter 5 of Part 3 of Division 107) AB 137 (Portantino) – Health Care Coverage: Mammographies SFMS/CMA Position: Support Requires every individual or group health insurance policy to provide coverage for mammography, for screening or diagnostic purposes, upon referral by a participating nurse practitioner, participating certified nurse-midwife, participating physician assistant or participating physician, as specified, based on medical need regardless of age. Because this bill would specify additional requirements for health care service plans, the willful violation of which would be considered a crime. (Health & Safety Code §1367.65; Insurance Code §10123.81) AB 1083 (Monning) – Health Care Coverage SFMS/CMA Position: Support Reforms California's small group health insurance laws to enact the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Prohibits a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy from imposing any preexisting condition provisions upon any individual. Provides an exception. Revises and recasts those provisions consistent with the ACA. Requires a specified notice regarding grandfathering such plans to all subscribers and insureds. Relates to open enrollment periods and rates. Makes certain provisions inoperative if provisions of the act are repealed. Requires specified reports. (Health & Safety Code §§1385.01, 1393.6, 1348.95, 1357.19, and 1357.55, to add Article 3.16, commencing with §1357.500, and Article 3.17, commencing with §1357.600, to Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of, and to repeal and add Article 3.15, commencing with §1357.50, of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2; Insurance Code §§10181, 10127.19, 10198.10, 10750, add Chapter 8.01, commencing with §10753, and Chapter 8.02, commencing with §10755, to Part 2 of Division 2 of, and to repeal and add Article 7, commencing with §10198.6, of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 2) AB 1301 (Hill) – Retail Tobacco Sales: Stake Act SFMS/CMA Position: Support Amends the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act. Removes the schedule for State Board of Equalization action in response to the occurrence of a violation of the Act or the related misdemeanor provision. Requires the board to assess a civil penalty and suspend or revoke a retailer's license for subsequent violations. Requires the assessment of an additional civil penalty to be deposited in the existing Cigarette and Tobacco Products Compliance Fund to fund suspension and revocation activities. (Business & Professions Code §§22958 and 22974.8; Penal Code §308) AB 2348 (Mitchell) – Nurses: Drug Dispensing Allows registered nurses (RNs) to dispense and administer hormonal contraceptives under a standardized procedure, as specified, and allows RNs to dispense drugs and devices upon an order by a certified nurse-midwife (CNM), a nurse practitioner (NP) or a physician assistant (PA) issued pursuant to standardized procedures while functioning within specified clinic settings. Expands the types of clinics in which an RN may dispense drugs or devices upon an order by a physician and surgeon, a CNM, an NP, or a PA to include intermittent clinics and student health centers operated by public higher education institutions. (Business & Professions Code §§2725.1 and 2725.2) Comments are closed.
