Legislature Takes Action on Health Reform-Related Bills
With Friday's deadline to pass bills out of their house of origin looming, the California Legislature this week took action on a slew of bills aimed at enacting parts of the federal health reform law or complementing the law's provisions.
The Assembly voted 42-21 to approve a bill (AB 1602), by Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles), that would create a health insurance exchange, ban lifetime limits on health care coverage and allow children to remain on their parents' insurance plans until age 26. All of the changes are mandated under the federal health reform law. The bill now heads to the Senate.
In other health reform-related legislative action, the Assembly voted 41-24 to pass a bill (AB 2244), by Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), that would prohibit health insurers from excluding or limiting coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
The Assembly also approved a bill (AB 2578), by Assembly member Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), that would require health insurers to obtain prior approval from the state Department of Insurance or the Department of Managed Health Care before raising premiums, copayments or deductibles.
Many lawmakers in California say it's important to begin the process of ensuring that California's health care system is in line with the new federal health reform law. However, several Republicans in the Legislature have said quick passage of reform bills is premature because the state's political climate could change after the November election.
Here's a look at some of the other health care bills making their way through the Legislature.
Health Care Reform
AB 1887, by Assembly member Mike Villines (R-Clovis), would establish a temporary high-risk pool to provide health coverage to specified individuals who have pre-existing conditions and who have not had coverage for six months prior to applying for the high-risk pool. The bill would require the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program to apply for federal funding to operate the pool (Bill text, 5/28). The bill is before the Assembly (Bill status, 6/1).
Prescription Drugs
Under AB 1826, by Assembly member Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), health plans that cover outpatient prescription drug benefits would need to provide coverage for drugs prescribed for the treatment of pain. The bill also would prohibit health plans from requiring an enrollee to first use a different drug or product (Bill text, 5/28). The Assembly passed the bill and sent it to the Senate (Bill status, 6/2).
Doctors and Nurses
AB 2385, by Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles), would establish the Pilot Program for Innovative Nursing and Allied Health Care Profession Education at California community colleges. The program would help community colleges provide training for students in nursing and allied health care fields (Bill text, 5/28). The bill is before the Assembly (Bill status, 6/2).
Childrens Health Coverage
Under AB 2093, by Assembly member V. Manuel Perez (D-Coachella), health plans that provide coverage for childhood and adolescent immunizations would need to reimburse health care providers at a level that covers the actual cost of acquiring the vaccine, in addition to the cost of administering the vaccine (Bill text, 5/28). The Assembly passed the bill and sent it to the Senate (Bill status, 6/2).
Health Plans
AB 1932, by Assembly member Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), would authorize the Department of Health Care Services to use certain service levels to determine reimbursement rates for emergency and nonemergency transportation and specialty care transportation (Bill text, 5/28). The Assembly passed the bill and sent it to the Senate (Bill status, 6/1).