BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2699
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          Date of Hearing:   May 19, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                     AB 2699 (Bass) - As Amended:  May 12, 2010 

          Policy Committee:                              Business &  
          Professions  Vote:                            11-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill establishes the framework for the regulation of  
          licensed health care professionals from other states who come to  
          California on a short-term basis to provide health care at free  
          health care clinics sponsored by not-for-profit or  
          community-based organizations. Specifically, this bill: 

          1)Establishes parameters for the temporary licensure of health  
            care professionals including physicians, surgeons, dentists,  
            dental hygienists, nurses, and physician assistants. 

          2)Specifies short-term voluntary services are provided for a  
            period of no more than 10 days in duration. 

          3)Requires the sponsoring organization to register with the  
            applicable healing arts board under the California Department  
            of Consumer Affairs. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Unknown, likely absorbable workload to healing arts  
          fee-supported professional boards to account for intermittent  
          temporary licensure of various health professionals.  

           COMMENTS  

          1)       Rationale  . This bill establishes oversight of providers  
            and patients providing free care in events such as the one  
            recently sponsored by the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer  
            Corps in Los Angeles County. Several weeks ago RAM provided  
            care to more than 6,000 uninsured patients, including 4,000  








                                                                  AB 2699
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            dental visits; 2,000 HIV tests, 1,200 acupuncture visits, 800  
            podiatry appointments; 500 women's health exams, and 400  
            mammograms. Under current law, there are no explicit  
            provisions to provide authority and oversight for such  
            short-term and large scale events with providers who are not  
            licensed within California. 
           
          2)       Background  . The RAM Volunteer Corps is a non-profit,  
            volunteer group dedicated to providing free health care,  
            dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and  
            educational assistance. Founded in 1985, RAM relies on  
            volunteer doctors, nurses, pilots, veterinarians, and support  
            workers who provide care at their own expense. Generally  
            medical supplies, medicines, facilities and vehicles are  
            donated.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081