AB 257 (Flora, R-Ripon)
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Passed the Assembly Health Committee March 25. To be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 257 would establish a demonstration project and grant program, working with the Department of Health Care Access and Information and the Department of Health Care Services, for a telehealth and other virtual services specialty care network focused on increasing access to behavioral and maternal health services in rural areas.
SB 669 (McGuire, D-San Rafael)
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Introduced on Feb. 20. April 9 hearing in the Senate Health Committee.
SB 669 would require the California Department of Public Health to establish a five-year pilot program allowing qualified critical access hospitals and individual, small system rural hospitals to operate standby perinatal units. To qualify for participation in the pilot program, hospitals must be greater than 60 minutes from the nearest hospital providing full maternity services and not have closed full maternity or labor and delivery (L&D) units within the past three years. In addition, qualifying hospitals must either have an agreement with a freestanding birth center that includes combined billing or agree to provide routine L&D services. CHA is actively working with Pro Tem Mike McGuire’s office to ensure the policy effectively addresses the complex factors driving maternity ward closures while facilitating practical implementation for hospitals.