Legislative Update May 5, 2008
Author: Kathy Lynch
May 5, 2008
Budget discussions for fiscal year '08-'09 are continuing. The budget discussions going on now are separate from actions taken as part of the fiscal emergency called by the Governor in January. We anticipate a better picture of the State's revenue and an overall fiscal update when the May revise is released the week of May 12th.
Below please find an update on the bills on the CPhA Bill List which were heard last week and those which will be heard this week.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at klynch@cpha.com or (916) 779-1400.
Thank you very much for your continued support!
Kathy
Monday, May 5, 2008 Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 1702 (Machado) Medi-Cal
SB 1702 requires the Department of Health Services to perform a review and, if necessary, a field audit of a Medi-Cal provider for purposes of detecting fraudulent activity and protecting program resources when the number of out-of-county Medi-Cal recipients served by a provider exceeds a threshold percentage.
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=sb_1702&sess=CUR&house=B&author=machado
Monday, May 5, 2008 Assembly Floor
AB 2091 (Fuentes) Workers' Compensation: Drugs and Pharmacy Services
AB 2091 authorizes the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation to revise maximum fees for pharmacy services and drugs that would exceed the fees for pharmacy services and drugs that are prescribed in the relevant Medi-Cal payment system and the maximum fees for pharmacy services or drugs no covered by the relevant Medi-Cal payment system that would exceed 100% of the fees paid by Medi-Cal for pharmacy services or drugs that require comparable resources.
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2091&sess=CUR&house=B&author=fuentes
Monday, May 5, 2008 Senate Floor
SB 1198 (Kuehl) Health Care Coverage: Durable Medical Equipment
SB 1198 requires a health care service plan and a health insurer to offer coverage for durable medical equipment as part of their group plan contracts or group policies.
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=sb_1198&sess=CUR&house=B&author=kuehl
SB 1096 (Calderon) Medical Information
SB 1096 allows a pharmacy to mail specified written communications to a patient, without the patient's authorization. SB 1096 provides that the written communication be written in the same language as the prescription label, pertain only to the prescribed course of medical treatment, may not mention any other pharmaceutical products, that a copy of each version shall be submitted to the federal Food and Drug Administration, and shall include disclosures regarding whether the pharmacy receives remuneration.
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=sb_1096&sess=CUR&house=B&author=calderon
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Senate Appropriations Committee
AB 2425 (Coto) Public Health: Water Quality: Pharmaceuticals
AB 2425 requires every pharmaceutical manufacturer that does business with the state to enter into a public-private partnership with the State Department of Public Health to advance public knowledge about pharmaceuticals in public drinking water supplies. AB 2425 requires the department to post links on its Internet Web site to other Web sites that have relevant educational information on the proper methods of handling and disposing of pharmaceuticals.
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2425&sess=CUR&house=B&author=coto
AB 2847 (Krekorian) Health Care: Coverage
AB 2847 amends Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act and requires a plan or insurer to disprove medical necessity during any grievance or medical review process. AB 2847 allows a treating provider to directly appeal denial of enrollee or insured health care services to Department of Managed Health Care or Department of Insurance.
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2847&sess=CUR&house=B&author=krekorian
Update on Bills Heard Last Week
SB 1198 (Kuehl) Health Care Coverage: Durable Medical Equipment
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
SB 1198 was placed in the Senate Appropriations Third Reading file.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=sb_1198&sess=CUR&house=B&author=kuehl
SB 1712 (Migden) Adulterated Cosmetics
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
SB 1712 was placed in the Senate Appropriations suspense file.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=sb_1712&sess=CUR&house=B&author=migden
AB 2756 (Duvall) Pharmacists: Furnishing Drugs During Emergency
CPhA Position: Support
AB 2756 passed the Assembly Business & Professions Committee and was referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2756&sess=CUR&house=B&author=duvall
AB 2021 (Fuentes) Personal Information
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
AB 2021 passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2021&sess=CUR&house=B&author=fuentes
AB 2690 (Krekorian) Product Liability Actions
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
AB 2690 passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2690&sess=CUR&house=B&author=krekorian
AB 259 (Adams) Crimes: Sale of Distribution of Salvia Divinorum
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
AB 259 passed the Senate Public Safety Committee and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_259&sess=CUR&house=B&author=adams
SB 1096 (Calderon) Medical Information
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
SB 1096 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now heads to the Senate Floor.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=sb_1096&sess=CUR&house=B&author=calderon
AB 2058 (Levine) Recycling: Plastic Carryout Bags
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
AB 2058 was placed in the Assembly Appropriations suspense file.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2058&sess=CUR&house=B&author=levine
AB 2091 (Fuentes) Workers' Compensation: Pharmacy Services
CPhA Position: Neutral/Watch
AB 2091 passed the Assembly Insurance Committee and now heads to the Assembly Floor.
To read the full text of this bill click or cut and paste:
http://www.legislature.ca.gov/cgi-bin/port-postquery?bill_number=ab_2091&sess=CUR&house=B&author=fuentes