Bill Text: CA AB596 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Health care services grants.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - Died at Desk. [AB596 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB596-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 596 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Brown
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
An act to amend Section 15438.10 of the Government Code, relating
to health care facilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 596, as introduced, Brown. Health care services grants.
Existing law establishes a program for the California Health
Facilities Authority to award grants that do not exceed $1,500,000 to
one or more projects designed to demonstrate specified new or
enhanced cost-effective methods of delivering quality health care
services to improve access to quality health care for vulnerable
populations or communities, or both, that are effective at enhancing
health outcomes and improving access to quality health care and
preventive services.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these
provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 15438.10 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
15438.10. (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Many Californians face serious obstacles in obtaining needed
health care services, including, but not limited to, medical, mental
health, dental, and preventive services. The obstacles faced by
vulnerable populations and communities include existence of complex
medical, physical, or social conditions, disabilities, economic
disadvantage, and living in remote or underserved areas that make it
difficult to access services.
(2) With the recent passage of national health care reform, there
is an increased demand for innovative ways to deliver quality health
care, including preventive services, to individuals in a
cost-effective manner.
(3) There is a need to develop new methods of delivering health
services utilizing innovative models that can be demonstrated to be
effective and then replicated throughout California and that bring
community-based health care preventive services to individuals where
they live or receive education, social, or general health services.
(4) For more than 30 years, the California Health Facilities
Financing Authority has provided financial assistance through
tax-exempt bonds, low-interest loans, and grants to health facilities
in California, assisting in the expansion of the availability of
health services and health care facilities throughout the state.
(b) (1) Following the completion of a competitive selection
process, the authority may award one or more grants that, in the
aggregate, do not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars
($1,500,000) to one or more projects designed to demonstrate
specified new or enhanced cost-effective methods of delivering
quality health care services to improve access to quality health care
for vulnerable populations or communities, or both, that are
effective at enhancing health outcomes and improving access to
quality health care and preventive services. These health care
services may include, but are not limited to, medical, mental health,
or dental services for the diagnosis, care, prevention, and
treatment of human illness, or individuals with physical, mental, or
developmental disabilities. More than one demonstration project may
receive a grant pursuant to this section. It is the intent of the
Legislature for a demonstration project that receives a grant to
allow patients to receive screenings, diagnosis, or treatment in
community settings, including, but not limited to, school-based
health centers, adult day care centers, and residential care
facilities for the elderly, or for individuals with mental illness or
developmental disabilities.
(2) A grant awarded pursuant to this subdivision may be allocated
in increments to a demonstration project in
increments over multiple years to ensure the demonstration
project's ability to complete its work, as determined by the
authority. Prior to the initial allocation of funds pursuant to this
subdivision, the administrators of the demonstration project shall
provide evidence that the demonstration project has or will have
additional funds sufficient to ensure completion of the demonstration
project. If the authority allocates a grant in increments, each
subsequent year's allocation shall be provided to the demonstration
project only upon submission of research that shows that the project
is progressing toward the identification of a high-quality and
cost-effective delivery model that improves health outcomes and
access to quality health care and preventive services for vulnerable
populations or communities, and can be replicated throughout the
state in community settings.
(3) Except for a health facility that qualifies as a "small and
rural hospital" pursuant to Section 124840 of the Health and Safety
Code, a health facility that has received tax-exempt bond financing
from the authority shall not be eligible to receive funds awarded for
a demonstration project. Such a health facility may participate as
an uncompensated partner or member of a collaborative effort that is
awarded a demonstration project grant. A health facility that
participates in a demonstration project that receives funds pursuant
to this section may not claim the funding provided by the authority
toward meeting its community benefit and charity care obligations.
(4) Funds provided to a demonstration project pursuant to this
subdivision may be used to supplement, but not to supplant, existing
financial and resource commitments of the grantee or grantees or any
other member of a collaborative effort that has been awarded a
demonstration project grant.
(c) (1) If a demonstration project that receives a grant pursuant
to subdivision (b) is successful at developing a new method of
delivering high-quality and cost-effective health care services in
community settings that result in increased access to quality health
care and preventive services or improved health care outcomes for
vulnerable populations or communities, or both, then beginning as
early as the second year after the initial allocation of moneys
provided pursuant to subdivision (b), the authority may implement a
second grant program that awards not more than five million dollars
($5,000,000), in the aggregate, to eligible recipients as defined by
the authority, to replicate in additional California communities the
model developed by a demonstration project that received a grant
pursuant to subdivision (b). Prior to the implementation of this
second grant program, the authority shall prepare and provide a
report to the Legislature and the Governor on the outcomes of the
demonstration project. The report shall be made in accordance with
Section 9795.
(2) If the authority implements the second grant program, the
authority shall also report annually, beginning with the first year
of implementation of the second grant program, to the Legislature and
the Governor regarding the program, including, but not limited to,
the total amount of grants issued pursuant to this subdivision, the
amount of each grant issued, and a description of each project
awarded funding for replication of the model.
(3) Grants under this subdivision may be utilized for eligible
costs, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 15432, including
equipment, information technology, and working capital, as defined in
subdivision (h) of Section 15432.
(4) The authority may adopt regulations relating to the grant
program authorized pursuant to this subdivision, including
regulations that define eligible recipients, eligible costs, and
minimum and maximum grant amounts.
(d) (1) The authority shall prepare and provide a report to the
Legislature and the Governor by January 1, 2014, on the outcomes of
the demonstration grant program, including, but not limited to, the
following:
(A) The total amount of grants issued.
(B) The amount of each grant issued.
(C) A description of other sources of funding for each project.
(D) A description of each project awarded funding.
(E) A description of project outcomes that demonstrate
cost-effective delivery of health care services in community
settings, that result in improved access to quality health care or
improved health care outcomes.
(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(e) There is hereby created the California Health Access Model
Program Account in the California Health Facilities Financing
Authority Fund. All moneys in the account are hereby continuously
appropriated to the authority for carrying out the purposes of this
section. An amount of up to six million five hundred thousand dollars
($6,500,000) shall be transferred from funds in the California
Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund that are not impressed
with a trust for other purposes into the California Health Access
Model Program Account for the purpose of issuing grants pursuant to
this section. Any moneys remaining in the California Health Access
Model Program Account on January 1, 2020, shall revert , as
of that date , to the California Health Facilities
Financing Authority Fund.
(f) Any recipient of a grant provided pursuant to subdivision (b)
shall adhere to all applicable laws relating to scope of practice,
licensure, staffing, and building codes.
