AB 357,
as amended, Pan. begin deleteCalifornia Healthy Child Advisory Task Force. end deletebegin insertChildren’s Health Advisory Board.end insert
Existing law requiresbegin delete the State Department of Health Care Servicesend deletebegin insert the stateend insert to implement and administer various child health and disease prevention programs.begin insert Existing law establishes the Healthy Families Advisory Board, a 15-member advisory panel appointed by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board. Existing law provides for the transition of children from the Healthy Families Program to Medi-Cal, including the transfer of the Healthy Families Advisory Board to the State Department of Health Care Services.end insert
This bill wouldbegin delete require the California Health and Human
Services Agency to establishend deletebegin insert repeal the Healthy Families Advisory Board and instead rename and recast the board asend insert thebegin delete California Healthy Child Advisory Task Forceend deletebegin insert Children’s Health Advisory Boardend insert, an independent, statewide advisory body charged with developing a vision for children’s health in the state, among other tasks. The bill would also provide related legislative findings and declarations.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(a) The health and well-being of California’s children should
4be among the state’s top priorities, and it is imperative that every
5child in California has meaningful health coverage with benefits
6that support healthy growth and development.
7(b) Children’s health coverage should encompass more than
8just treatment of diseases and illnesses, but also cover services and
9care to promote healthy development and well-being.
10(c) All children should receive care that meets recognized
11standards of practice.
12(d) For the first time in history, the current generation of children
13is likely to be less healthy than their parents and live shorter lives.
14(e) The incidences and types of chronic disease in children have
15both increased and changed dramatically over the past four decades.
16One in five children have a mental health problem, and the number
17of overweight children has tripled for preschoolers and adolescents
18and quadrupled for children 6 to 11 years of age, inclusive.
19(f) Approximately 1.1 million children in California are
20uninsured, and the quality of children’s health services and access
21to these services reflect significant disparities in geographic, racial,
22ethnic, and socioeconomic status.
23(g) Children with special health care needs are often those who
24experience the greatest challenges in accessing a
variety of the
25high-quality services they need.
26(h) The administration and delivery of child health programs is
27often ineffective, uncoordinated, and incomplete with little
28accountability for quality.
29(i) The modern epidemics facing children today have lifelong
30consequences and present significant costs to the economy. The
31failure to ensure the health of our children may jeopardize their
32ability to function effectively as adults and for our state and nation
33to remain strong and competitive in our global society.
Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) is added
2to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety
3Code, to read:
4
The California Health and Human Services Agency
8shall establish the California Healthy Child Advisory Task Force,
9an independent, statewide advisory body charged with developing
10a vision for children’s health in California, making
11recommendations on improving child health systems, and setting
12goals and standards for children’s health coverage that include
13developmentally appropriate health promotion and other support
14services.
begin insertArticle 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) is added
16to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
17Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert
18
(a) The Healthy Families Advisory Board established
22by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance Code is hereby
23renamed the Children’s Health Advisory Board.
24(b) The Children’s Health Advisory Board shall be an
25independent, statewide advisory board that shall develop a vision
26for children’s health in California, make recommendations on
27improving child health systems, and set goals and standards for
28children’s health coverage.
29(c) The membership of the advisory board shall be composed
30of the following 15 members:
31(1) One member who is a licensed, practicing dentist, appointed
32by the Governor.
33(2) One representative from a licensed nonprofit primary care
34clinic, appointed by the Governor.
35(3) One representative of the mental health provider community,
36appointed by the Governor.
37(4) One representative from the health plan community,
38appointed by the Governor.
39(5) One representative from the business community, appointed
40by the Governor.
P4 1(6) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in the
2area of family practice medicine, appointed by the Senate
3Committee on Rules.
4(7) One representative from a licensed hospital that is on the
5disproportionate share list maintained by the State Department
6of Health Care
Services, appointed by the Senate Committee on
7Rules.
8(8) One representative of the substance abuse provider
9community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
10(9) One representative of the county public health provider
11community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
12(10) One representative from the education community,
13appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
14(11) Three representatives from the Medi-Cal population,
15appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
16(12) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in
17pediatrics, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
18(13) One representative from a family with
children with special
19needs, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
20(d) The advisory board members shall have demonstrated
21expertise in providing health-related services to children 18 years
22of age and under, as applicable.
23(e) The advisory board shall elect, from among its members, its
24chair.
25(f) The advisory board’s powers and duties shall include, but
26not be limited to, all of the following:
27(1) To advise the Director of Health Care Services on all
28policies, regulations, and operations of the Medi-Cal program.
29(2) To consider all written recommendations of the advisory
30board and respond in writing when the Director of Health Care
31Services rejects the advice of the advisory board.
32(3) To meet at least quarterly, unless deemed unnecessary by
33the chair.
34(g) The members of the advisory board shall be reimbursed for
35all necessary travel expenses associated with the activities of the
36advisory board.
37(h) The State Department of Health Care Services shall provide
38staff assistance to the advisory board.
39(i) The Legislature does not intend the addition of this section
40to result in a new board but is instead a continuation of the prior
P5 1board established by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance
2Code, and therefore no new board members shall be appointed
3until a vacancy occurs.
begin insertChapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of
5Part 6.2 of Division 2 of the end insertbegin insertInsurance Codeend insertbegin insert is repealed.end insert
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