CMA’s lobbying team is six for six early in the legislative session, with all of CMA’s sponsored bills moving swiftly through the Assembly. The bills CMA is sponsoring this year are:

Whistleblower Protections (AB 632): This bill would clarify whistleblower protections for physicians and prohibit hospitals and other health care facilities (and their affiliates) from retaliating or discriminating against a physician on its medical staff for speaking out about the quality of care provided in the facility. The bill unanimously passed the Assembly Health Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee and has been sent to the full Assembly for a vote.

HIV Screening (AB 682): This bill would streamline the HIV testing process, so that HIV screening can become a routine part of medical checkups, as recommended by the CDC. The bill unanimously passed the Assembly Health Committee.

Farmworker Health Coverage (AB 770): This bill, which would improve access to health care for farmworkers in California, passed the Assembly Health Committee Wednesday, with a 11 to 5 vote and has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

DMHC Enforcement (AB 1155): This bill, which would require that enforcement DMHC enforcement actions against health plans make physicians whole, passed the Assembly Health Committee with a vote of 12 to 3.

Medi-Cal Physician Enrollment (AB 1226): This bill would facilitate physician enrollment in the Medi-Cal program. It unanimously passed the Assembly Health Committee and has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Retroactive Policy Cancellation (AB 1324): This bill would confirm that it is illegal for insurers to rescind or modify authorization after services are rendered in good faith. It would also require that physicians be paid for services provided in good faith with prior authorization. The bill passed the Assembly Health Committee with a vote of 13 to 2 and has been sent to the Assembly floor.

For more information on this and other bills of interest to physicians, see CMA's Legislative Hot List.

Contact: Susan Bassett, 916/444-5532 or sbassett@cmanet.org.