BILL NUMBER: AB 329	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  386
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 10, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 10, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 19, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Nakanishi
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Arambula, Fuller, and Maze)
   (Coauthors: Senators Cogdill and Ridley-Thomas)

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2007

   An act to add Section 2028.5 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to medicine.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 329, Nakanishi. Chronic diseases: telemedicine.
   Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, creates the Medical Board
of California that is responsible for issuing a physician and surgeon'
s certificate to practice medicine and for regulating the practice of
physicians and surgeons. The act also regulates the practice of
telemedicine, defined as the practice of health care delivery,
diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of medical data, and
education using interactive audio, video, or data communications.
   This bill would authorize the board to establish a pilot program
to expand the practice of telemedicine, and would authorize the board
to implement the program by convening a working group. The bill
would specify that the purpose of the pilot program would be to
develop methods, using a telemedicine model, of delivering health
care to those with chronic diseases and delivering other health
information. The bill would require the board to make recommendations
regarding its findings to the Legislature within one calendar year
of the commencement date of the pilot program.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 2028.5 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   2028.5.  (a) The board may establish a pilot program to expand the
practice of telemedicine in this state.
   (b) To implement this pilot program, the board may convene a
working group of interested parties from the public and private
sectors, including, but not limited to, state health-related
agencies, health care providers, health plan administrators,
information technology groups, and groups representing health care
consumers.
   (c) The purpose of the pilot program shall be to develop methods,
using a telemedicine model, to deliver throughout the state health
care to persons with chronic diseases as well as information on the
best practices for chronic disease management services and techniques
and other health care information as deemed appropriate.
   (d) The board shall make a report with its recommendations
regarding its findings to the Legislature within one calendar year of
the commencement date of the pilot program. The report shall include
an evaluation of the improvement and affordability of health care
services and the reduction in the number of complications achieved by
the pilot program.