Bill Text: CA AB824 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Rural hospitals: physician services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-01 - Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB824 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB824-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 824	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chesbro

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

   An act to amend Section 1179 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 824, as introduced, Chesbro. Rural health.
   Existing law requires the Secretary of the California Health and
Welfare Agency to establish an Office of Rural Health within the
agency and sets forth its powers and duties relating to promoting a
strong working relationship between state government, prescribed
entities, and rural consumers and relating to developing health
initiatives and maximizing existing resources without duplication.
Existing law makes related findings and declarations, including, but
not limited to, recognizing the need to take a comprehensive approach
to strengthen and coordinate rural health programs and health care
delivery systems.
   This bill would revise those findings and declarations to,
instead, recognize the need to take a comprehensive approach, which
includes federal health care reform, to strengthen and coordinate
rural health programs and health care delivery systems.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1179 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   1179.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) Outside of California's four major metropolitan areas, the
majority of the state is rural. In general, the rural population is
older, sicker, poorer, and more likely to be unemployed, uninsured,
or underinsured. The lack of primary care, specialty providers and
transportation continue to be significant barriers to access to
health services in rural areas.
   (b) There is no coordinated or comprehensive plan of action for
rural health care in California to ensure the health of California's
rural residents. Most of the interventions that have taken place on
behalf of rural communities have been limited in scope and purpose
and were not conceived or implemented with any comprehensive or
systematic approach in mind. Because health planning tends to focus
on approaches for population centers, the unique needs of rural
communities may not be addressed. A comprehensive plan and approach
is necessary to obtain federal support and relief, as well as to
realistically institute state and industry interventions.
   (c) Rural communities lack the resources to make the transition
from present practices to managed care, and to make other changes
that may be necessary as the result of health care reform efforts.
With numerous health care reform proposals being debated and with the
extensive changes in the current health care delivery system, a
comprehensive and coordinated analysis must take place regarding the
impact of these proposals on rural areas.
   (d) Rural areas lack the technical expertise and resources to
improve and coordinate their local data collection activities, which
are necessary for well-targeted health planning, program development,
and resource development. Data must be available to local
communities to enable them to plan effectively.
   (e) The Legislature recognizes the need to take a comprehensive
approach  , which includes federal health care reform,  to
strengthen and coordinate rural health programs and health care
delivery systems in order to:
   (1) Facilitate access to high quality health care for California's
rural communities.
   (2) Promote coordinated planning and policy development among
state departments and between the State and local public and private
providers.