State Policy 2023-2024

Below is a list of high priority bills that CAPH  supported in the 2023-24 Legislative Session.

Access to Care

• SB 282 (Eggman): Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics: This CAPH co-sponsored bill would have allowed California’s safety net clinics to be paid appropriately for mental health services provided on the same day as a physical health visit, creating additional opportunities to expand mental health services and help address our state’s mental health crisis. CAPH submitted a co-sponsor letter. SB 282 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will not be moving forward this year.
• SB 819 (Eggman): Medi-Cal – Certification: This bill would clarify existing law that license-exempt clinics can operate intermittent sites or mobile health care units, without enrolling them in the Medi-Cal program as separate providers, which is the same standard for licensed community clinics. CAPH submitted a letter of support. SB 819 is a two-year bill.
• AB 663 (Haney): Pharmacy – Mobile Units:  This bill would authorize mobile pharmacies operated by local jurisdictions to dispense controlled substances used for the treatment of opioid use disorder. By allowing mobile pharmacies to dispense medications like buprenorphine, high-risk populations, including people experiencing homelessness, can have access to these needed and often lifesaving medications. CAPH has submitted a request for signature letter to the Governor.
• AB 1481 (Boerner): Medi-Cal – Presumptive Eligibility: This bill would strengthen Medi-Cal coverage for pregnant people by ensuring that coverage is maintained during the transition from presumptive eligibility to full-scope coverage. CAPH submitted a request for signature letter to the Governor.
• AB 1557 (Flora): Pharmacy – Electronic Prescriptions: This bill would allow pharmacists to efficiently and safely review and process medication orders off-site before patient administration and help support public health care systems’ efforts to ensure that their patients can access needed medications. Prior to the bill being signed by Governor Newsom, CAPH submitted a request for signature letter.
• AB 1731 (Santiago): CURES Database – Buprenorphine: This bill would help streamline care in the emergency department (ED) for opioid use disorder and support providers in their efforts to treat patients as quickly as possible. Prior to the bill being signed by Governor Newsom, CAPH submitted a request for signature letter.
• SB 786 (Portantino) – Prescription Drug Pricing: This bill would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from imposing discriminatory actions against 340B providers. These practices undermine the intent of the 340B Drug Pricing Program and take away resources from the health care safety net, putting access to care at risk for the millions of patients who rely on it. CAPH submitted a request for signature letter to the Governor.

Workforce

• AB 689 (Carrillo): Community colleges enrollment and registration: This bill would provide health care employees with priority registration when enrolling in community college courses, which would help address our state’s health care workforce crisis. CAPH submitted a letter of support. AB 689 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will not be moving forward this year.

For our reaction to the Governor’s 2023-24 May Revision, please see our media statement.