California lawmakers unveil bill to tax MCOs and plug $1.1 billion hole in budget California lawmakers on Monday unveiled two identical bills to replace the soon-to-expire tax on managed care organizations (MCO). The bills, ABx2 20 (Bonta) and SBx2 15 (Hernandez), are the product of 14 months of negations with MCOs. These bills are supported by the California Association of Health Plans, with most member plans either supportive or neutral. The current MCO tax will expire this summer if legislators cannot agree on a replacement. Since 2005, the state has taxed MCOs and used the money to cover the costs of the Medi-Cal program. ... February 16, 2016 Managed Care, Medi-Cal Medi-Cal, State Legislation, Managed Care, Managed Care Organization (MCO) 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA publishes summary of new health care laws for 2016 The California Legislature had an active year, passing many new laws affecting health care. In particular, there was a strong focus on Medi-Cal, scope of practice for allied health professionals, public health and residential care facilities for the elderly. This document contains a list of the most significant new health laws of interest to physicians. The California Medical Association has published a summary of the most significant new health laws. For more details, see "Significant New California Laws of Interest to Physicians for 2016." November 20, 2015 General Legislation, Health Law Library, State Legislation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA publishes 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up It is difficult to imagine, but the 2015 legislative year was even more challenging than 2014, which included the diversion of staff resources to defeat the trial lawyers’ Proposition 46. From the hard-fought victory of Senate Bill 277—a bill that eliminates the personal belief exemption for schoolchildren—to the full court press in the final day of the legislative session to eliminate Assembly Bill 533—a bill that would have allowed a massive transfer of negotiating power to health plans at the expense of physicians—the California Medical Association (CMA) worked through ... October 14, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, State Legislative Advocacy, State Legislation 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA defeats bill that would have transferred negotiating power to health plans at the expense of physicians The California Medical Association (CMA) has defeated a bill that would have drastically changed the current health care marketplace by allowing a massive transfer of negotiating power to the health plans at the expense of physicians. Assembly Bill 533 was an attempt to shield patients from billing disputes between providers and health plans and would have required non-contracted physicians and dentists to accept Medicare rates as payment in full when performing services in a contracted or “in-network” facility. Although CMA is in favor of removing patients from billing disputes between ... September 23, 2015 Managed Care Advocacy, Medical Provider Networks, State Legislation, Health Plans 0 0 Comment Read More »
Six tobacco bills to be taken up during special session on health Six bills aimed at saving lives and reducing the cost of tobacco-related diseases on California’s health system will be taken up during the Legislature’s second special session to address health care — a meeting ordered by Gov. Jerry Brown. Some of the bills being proposed are the same as those introduced in the Capitol earlier this year, including bills to add e-cigarettes to the existing tobacco products definition and to increase the age of sale for tobacco products to 21. Other bills introduced would allow local jurisdictions to tax tobacco ... July 29, 2015 General State Legislation, State Legislative Advocacy, Tobacco, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccine bill passes through state Assembly and Senate; heads to Gov. Brown for signature A widely supported vaccination bill cleared its second house in the California legislature on Thursday, and passed through the Senate again today. Senate Bill 277, which passed through the Assembly Health Committee on June 9, was approved on the Assembly floor with a 46-30 vote. Today the bill was approved on the Senate floor with a 24-14 vote. The bill’s next stop is the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. “Overwhelmingly, doctors will tell us that vaccines are one of the greatest health achievements in all of mankind,” Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ... July 6, 2015 General Advocacy, Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate Bill 277 Clears Assembly Sacramento — Senate Bill 277 jumped its final hurdle in the state Assembly today, clearing the house with overwhelming 46-30 approval. The bill now heads back to the Senate, where legislators will consider amendments made in the Assembly. “The California Medical Association (CMA) would like to thank the Assemblymembers who supported this important piece of legislation that will improve public health and keep our communities safe,” CMA President Luther F. Cobb, M.D., said. “Diseases that were once declared eradicated have resurfaced in recent years and SB 277 will help to ... June 26, 2015 General Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, Advocacy, I Heart Immunity, Immunization 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccination bill clears Asembly Health Committee after nearly five hours of discussion, testimony Senate Bill 277, which would bar parents from skipping school vaccination requirements due to personal philosophies, passed its first test in the state Assembly on Tuesday. Policymakers in the Assembly Health Committee approved the bill on a 12-6 vote. SB 277 would allow only medical exemptions for children entering public school by removing the option to file a personal belief exemption (PBE). The bill would not pertain to families who homeschool or utilize independent study. As in previous hearings, both proponents and opponents of SB 277 filled up the room to ... June 26, 2015 General Advocacy, Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Strong majority of Californians support requiring vaccinations for school children Some of the key findings in a statewide survey published on June 3 showed that a majority of those surveyed agreed with Senate Bill 277 (Pan), a bill sponsored by the California Medical Association that would eliminate personal belief exemptions and require parents to vaccinate their children before enrolling them in school. According to a survey released yesterday by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), two-thirds of Californians (67 percent) and public school parents (65 percent) say children should not be allowed to attend unless they are vaccinated. Majorities ... June 15, 2015 General Immunization, Public Health, State Legislation, Vaccination, Advocacy, I Heart Immunity 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate passes bills to regulate e-cigarettes, raise smoking age Two bills aimed at making it harder for California’s youth to use tobacco products passed in the state Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 151 (Hernandez) would raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes from 18 to 21. SB 140 (Leno) would regulate e-cigarettes similar to combustible cigarettes, including banning their use in the usual “smoke-free” locations, such as schools, restaurants and hospitals. SB 151 was the first of the two bills heard on the Senate floor. It passed on a 26-8 vote. “We will not sit on the sidelines while big tobacco ... June 5, 2015 General Smoking, Smoking Age, State Legislation, Tobacco, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
