Amended in Assembly May 11, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 25, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1774


Introduced by Assembly Member Bonilla

February 3, 2016


An act to amend Sections 654.1, 655.5, 1206, 1206.6, 1220, 1244, 1246.5, 1271.1, 1272, 1300, 1301, and 1320 of, to add Section 1272.1 to, to repeal Sections 1241.1, 1265, 1265.1, 1266, 1267, 1268, 1272.4, 1272.6, 1281, 1300.1, 1324, and 1325 of, and to repeal and add Sections 1223, 1227, and 1310 of, the Business and Professions Code, to amend Section 9272 of the Food and Agricultural Code, to amend Sections 1206 and 1600.3 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 14043.27 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to clinical laboratories.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1774, as amended, Bonilla. Clinical laboratories: licensure.

Existing federal law, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) requires the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to certify and regulate clinical laboratories that perform testing on humans. Complaints against individual laboratories are directed to the state.

Existing law provides for the licensure, registration, and regulation of clinical laboratories and various clinical laboratory personnel by the State Department of Public Health. Under existing law the department inspects clinical laboratories and assesses a fee for licensure of those facilities.

This bill would repeal the laws requiring a clinical laboratory to be licensed by the department, including the licensing fee, and would recast the inspection role of the department to involve inspection and monitoring of specified issues for clinical laboratories that are not accredited by an accrediting organization approved under CLIA, investigation upon complaint, and sanctions, as provided.begin insert The bill would authorize the department, after the balance in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Fund that is attributable to licensing fees previously assessed on clinical laboratories is less than $1,000,000, to assess a fee, upon inspection, for clinical laboratories that are not accredited by an agency approved under federal law.end insert The bill would also make conforming changes.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 654.1 of the Business and Professions
2Code
is amended to read:

3

654.1.  

(a) A person licensed under Chapter 4 (commencing
4with Section 1600) of this division or licensed under Chapter 5
5(commencing with Section 2000) of this division or licensed under
6any initiative act referred to in this division relating to osteopaths
7may not refer patients, clients, or customers to a clinical laboratory
8in which the licensee has a membership, proprietary interest, or
9coownership in any form, or has a profit-sharing arrangement,
10unless the licensee at the time of making the referral discloses in
11writing the interest to the patient, client, or customer. The written
12disclosure shall indicate that the patient may choose any clinical
13laboratory for purposes of having laboratory work or assignment
14performed.

15(b) This doesbegin delete shallend delete not apply to persons who are members of a
16medical group that contracts to provide medical care to members
17of a group practice prepayment plan registered under the
18Knox-Keene Health Care Service Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2
19(commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and
20Safety Code).

21(c) This doesbegin delete shallend delete not apply to a referral to a clinical laboratory
22that is owned and operated by a health facility licensed pursuant
P3    1to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) of Division 2 of
2the Health and Safety Code.

3(d) This section does not prohibit the acceptance of evaluation
4specimens for proficiency testing or referral of specimens or the
5assignment from one clinical laboratory to another clinical
6laboratory, either licensed or exempt under this chapter, providing
7the report indicates clearly the laboratory performing the test.

8(e) “Proprietary interest” does not include ownership of a
9building where space is leased to a clinical laboratory at the
10prevailing rate under a straight lease arrangement.

11(f) A violation of this section is a public offense and is
12punishable upon a first conviction by imprisonment in a county
13jail for not more than one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to
14subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by a fine not
15exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that
16imprisonment and fine. A second or subsequent conviction shall
17be punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of
18Section 1170 of the Penal Code.

19

SEC. 2.  

Section 655.5 of the Business and Professions Code
20 is amended to read:

21

655.5.  

(a) It is unlawful for a person licensed under this
22division or under an initiative act referred to in this division, or a
23clinical laboratory, or a health facility when billing for a clinical
24laboratory of the facility, to charge, bill, or otherwise solicit
25payment from a patient, client, or customer for a clinical laboratory
26service not actually rendered by the person or clinical laboratory
27or under his,begin delete herend deletebegin insert her,end insert or its direct supervision unless the patient,
28client, or customer is apprised at the first time of the charge, billing,
29or solicitation of the name, address, and charges of the clinical
30laboratory performing the service. The first written charge, bill,
31or other solicitation of payment shall separately set forth the name,
32address, and charges of the clinical laboratory concerned and shall
33clearly show whether or not the charge is included in the total of
34the account, bill, or charge. This subdivision is satisfied if the
35required disclosures are made to the third-party payer of the patient,
36client, or customer. If the patient is responsible for submitting the
37bill for the charges to the third-party payer, the bill provided to
38the patient for that purpose shall include the disclosures required
39by this section. This subdivision does not apply to a clinical
40laboratory of a health facility or a health facility when billing for
P4    1a clinical laboratory of the facility nor to a person licensed under
2this division or under any initiative act referred to in this division
3if the standardized billing form used by the facility or person
4requires a summary entry for all clinical laboratory charges. For
5purposes of this subdivision, “health facility” has the same meaning
6as defined in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.

7(b) A clinical laboratory shall provide to each of its referring
8providers, upon request, a schedule of fees for services provided
9to patients of the referring provider. The schedule shall be provided
10within two working days after the clinical laboratory receives the
11request. For the purposes of this subdivision, a “referring provider”
12means a provider who has referred a patient to the clinical
13laboratory in the preceding six-month period. A clinical laboratory
14that provides a list of laboratory services to a referring provider
15or to a potential referring provider shall include a schedule of fees
16for the laboratory services listed.

17(c) It is also unlawful for a person licensed under this division
18or under any initiative act referred to in this division to charge
19additional charges for a clinical laboratory service that is not
20actually rendered by the licensee to the patient and itemized in the
21charge, bill, or other solicitation of payment. This section shall not
22be construed to prohibit any of the following:

23(1) An itemized charge for a service actually rendered to the
24patient by the licensee.

25(2) A summary charge for services actually rendered to a patient
26by a health facility, as defined in Section 1250 of the Health and
27Safety Code, or by a person licensed under this division or under
28any initiative act referred to in this division if the standardized
29billing form used by the facility or person requires a summary
30entry for all clinical laboratory charges.

31(d) As used in this section, the term “a person licensed under
32this division” includes a registered laboratory, as defined in Section
331206, all wholly owned subsidiaries of the person, a parent
34company that wholly owns the person, and any subsidiaries wholly
35owned by the same parent that wholly owns the person. “Wholly
36owned” means ownership directly or through one or more
37subsidiaries. This section shall not apply to billings by a registered
38laboratory when the registered laboratory bills for services
39performed by a laboratory owned or operated by the registered
40laboratory.

P5    1(e) This section does not apply to a person or clinical laboratory
2who or which contracts directly with a health care service plan
3licensed pursuant to Section 1349 of the Health and Safety Code,
4if the services are to be provided to members of the plan on a
5prepaid basis and without additional charge or liability on account
6thereof.

7(f) A violation of this section is a public offense and is
8punishable upon a first conviction by imprisonment in a county
9jail for not more than one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to
10subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by a fine not
11exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that
12 imprisonment and fine. A second or subsequent conviction is
13punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section
141170 of the Penal Code.

15(g) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (f), a violation of this
16section by a physician and surgeon for a first offense shall be
17subject to the exclusive remedy of reprimand by the Medical Board
18of California if the transaction that is the subject of the violation
19involves a charge for a clinical laboratory service that is less than
20the charge would have been if the clinical laboratory providing
21the service billed a patient, client, or customer directly for the
22clinical laboratory service, and if that clinical laboratory charge is
23less than the charge listed in the clinical laboratory’s schedule of
24fees pursuant to subdivision (b).

25(2) This subdivision does not permit a physician and surgeon
26to charge more than he or she was charged for the laboratory
27service by the clinical laboratory providing the service unless the
28additional charge is for service actually rendered by the physician
29and surgeon to the patient.

30

SEC. 3.  

Section 1206 of the Business and Professions Code is
31amended to read:

32

1206.  

(a) For the purposes of this chapter the following
33definitions are applicable:

34(1) “Analyte” means the substance or constituent being
35measured, including, but not limited to, glucose, sodium, or
36theophylline, or any substance or property whose presence or
37absence, concentration, activity, intensity, or other characteristics
38are to be determined.

39(2) “Biological specimen” means any material that is derived
40from the human body.

P6    1(3) “Blood electrolyte analysis” means the measurement of
2electrolytes in a blood specimen by means of ion selective
3electrodes on instruments specifically designed and manufactured
4for blood gas and acid-base analysis.

5(4) “Blood gas analysis” means a clinical laboratory test or
6examination that deals with the uptake, transport, and
7metabolization of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the human body.

8(5) “Clinical laboratory test or examination” means the
9detection, identification, measurement, evaluation, correlation,
10monitoring, and reporting of any particular analyte, entity, or
11substance within a biological specimen for the purpose of obtaining
12scientific data that may be used as an aid to ascertain the presence,
13progress, and source of a disease or physiological condition in a
14human being, or used as an aid in the prevention, prognosis,
15monitoring, or treatment of a physiological or pathological
16condition in a human being, or for the performance of
17nondiagnostic tests for assessing the health of an individual.

18(6) “Clinical laboratory science” means any of the sciences or
19scientific disciplines used to perform a clinical laboratory test or
20examination.

21(7) “Clinical laboratory practice” means the application of
22clinical laboratory sciences or the use of any means that applies
23the clinical laboratory sciences within or outside of a licensed or
24registered clinical laboratory. Clinical laboratory practice includes
25consultation, advisory, and other activities inherent to the
26profession.

27(8) “Clinical laboratory” means a place used, or an establishment
28or institution organized or operated, for the performance of clinical
29laboratory tests or examinations or the practical application of the
30clinical laboratory sciences. That application may include any
31means that applies the clinical laboratory sciences.

32(9) “Direct and constant supervision” means personal
33observation and critical evaluation of the activity of unlicensed
34laboratory personnel by a physician and surgeon, or by a person
35licensed under this chapter other than a trainee, during the entire
36time that the unlicensed laboratory personnel are engaged in the
37duties specified in Section 1269.

38(10) “Direct and responsible supervision” means both of the
39following:

P7    1(A) Personal observation and critical evaluation of the activity
2of a trainee by a physician and surgeon, or by a person licensed
3under this chapter other than a trainee, during the entire time that
4the trainee is performing clinical laboratory tests or examinations.

5(B) Personal review by the physician and surgeon or the licensed
6person of all results of clinical laboratory testing or examination
7performed by the trainee for accuracy, reliability, and validity
8before the results are reported from the laboratory.

9(11) “Licensed laboratory” means a clinical laboratory licensed
10pursuant to the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement
11Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).

12(12) “Location” means either a street and city address, or a site
13or place within a street and city address, where any of the clinical
14laboratory sciences or scientific disciplines are practiced or applied,
15or where clinical laboratory tests or examinations are performed.

16(13) “Physician office laboratory” means a clinical laboratory
17that is either: (A) owned and operated by a partnership or
18professional corporation that performs clinical laboratory tests or
19examinations only for patients of five or fewer physicians and
20surgeons or podiatrists who are shareholders, partners, or
21employees of the partnership or professional corporation that owns
22and operates the clinical laboratory; or (B) owned and operated
23by an individual licensed physician and surgeon or a podiatrist,
24and that performs clinical laboratory tests or examinations only
25for patients of the physician and surgeon or podiatrist who owns
26and operates the clinical laboratory.

27(14) “Point-of-care laboratory testing device” means a portable
28laboratory testing instrument to which the following applies:

29(A) It is used within the proximity of the patient for whom the
30test or examination is being conducted.

31(B) It is used in accordance with the patient test management
32system, the quality control program, and the comprehensive quality
33assurance program established and maintained by the laboratory
34pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 1220.

35(C) It meets the following criteria:

36(i) Performs clinical laboratory tests or examinations classified
37as waived or of moderate complexity under the federal Clinical
38Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) (42 U.S.C.
39Sec. 263a).

P8    1(ii) Performs clinical laboratory tests or examinations on
2biological specimens that require no preparation after collection.

3(iii) Provides clinical laboratory tests or examination results
4without calculation or discretionary intervention by the testing
5personnel.

6(iv) Performs clinical laboratory tests or examinations without
7the necessity for testing personnel to perform calibration or
8maintenance, except resetting pursuant to the manufacturer’s
9instructions or basic cleaning.

10(15) “Public health laboratory” means a laboratory that is
11operated by a city or county in conformity with Article 5
12(commencing with Section 101150) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of
13 Division 101 of the Health and Safety Code and the regulations
14adopted thereunder.

15(16) “Registered laboratory” means a clinical laboratory that
16performs clinical laboratory tests or examinations subject to a
17certificate of waiver or a certificate of provider-performed
18microscopy under CLIA.

19(17) “Specialty” means histocompatibility, microbiology,
20diagnostic immunology, chemistry, hematology,
21immunohematology, pathology, genetics, or other specialty
22specified by regulation adopted by the department.

23(18) “Subspecialty” for purposes of microbiology, means
24bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology,
25molecular biology, and serology for diagnosis of infectious
26diseases, or other subspecialty specified by regulation adopted by
27the department; for purposes of diagnostic immunology, means
28syphilis serology, general immunology, or other subspecialty
29specified by regulation adopted by the department; for purposes
30of chemistry, means routine chemistry, clinical microscopy,
31endocrinology, toxicology, or other subspecialty specified by
32regulation adopted by the department; for purposes of
33immunohematology, means ABO/Rh Type and Group, antibody
34detection for transfusion, antibody detection nontransfusion,
35antibody identification, compatibility, or other subspecialty
36specified by regulation adopted by the department; for pathology,
37means tissue pathology, oral pathology, diagnostic cytology, or
38other subspecialty specified by regulation adopted by the
39department; for purposes of genetics, means molecular biology
40 related to the diagnosis of human genetic abnormalities,
P9    1cytogenetics, or other subspecialty specified by regulation adopted
2by the department.

3(b) This chapter does not restrict, limit, or prevent a person
4licensed to provide health care services under the laws of this state,
5including, but not limited to, licensed physicians and surgeons and
6registered nurses, from practicing the profession or occupation for
7which he or she is licensed.

8(c) This chapter does not authorize a person to perform or order
9health care services, or utilize the results of the clinical laboratory
10test or examination, unless the person is otherwise authorized to
11provide that care or utilize the results. The inclusion of a person
12in Section 1206.5 for purposes of performing a clinical laboratory
13test or examination shall not be interpreted to authorize a person,
14who is not otherwise authorized, to perform venipuncture, arterial
15puncture, or skin puncture.

16

SEC. 4.  

Section 1206.6 of the Business and Professions Code
17 is amended to read:

18

1206.6.  

Subdivision (a) of Section 1206.5 does not apply to a
19pharmacist at a community pharmacy who, upon customer request,
20performs only blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, or cholesterol tests
21that are classified as waived under CLIA and are approved by the
22federal Food and Drug Administration for sale to the public without
23a prescription in the form of an over-the-counter test kit, provided
24that all of the following requirements are satisfied:

25(a) The pharmacy obtains a valid CLIA certificate of waiver
26and complies with all other requirements for the performance of
27waived clinical laboratory tests under applicable federal
28regulations. For purposes of CLIA, the person identified as
29responsible for directing and supervising testing oversight and
30decisionmaking shall be the pharmacist-in-charge, as defined in
31Section 4036.5.

32(b) The pharmacy complies with this chapter.

33(c) The tests are performed only by a pharmacist, as defined in
34Section 4036, in the course of performing routine patient
35assessment procedures in compliance with Section 4052.4.

36

SEC. 5.  

Section 1220 of the Business and Professions Code is
37amended to read:

38

1220.  

(a) (1) Each clinical laboratory shall maintain records,
39equipment, and facilities that are adequate and appropriate for the
40services rendered.

P10   1(2) (A) Except for tests or examinations classified as waived
2under CLIA, each clinical laboratory shall enroll, and demonstrate
3successful participation, as defined under CLIA, for each specialty
4and subspecialty in which it performs clinical laboratory tests or
5examinations, in a proficiency testing program approved by the
6department or by CMS, to the same extent as required by CLIA
7in Subpart H (commencing with Section 493.801) of Title 42 of
8the Code of Federal Regulations. This requirement does not
9prohibit a clinical laboratory from performing clinical laboratory
10tests or examinations in a specialty or subspecialty for which there
11is no department orbegin delete CMS approvedend deletebegin insert CMS-approvedend insert proficiency
12testing program.

13(B) Each clinical laboratory shall authorize its proficiency test
14results to be reported to the department in an electronic format that
15is compatible with the department’s proficiency testing data
16monitoring system and shall authorize the release of proficiency
17tests results to the public to the same extent required by CLIA.

18(b) Each clinical laboratory shall be conducted, maintained, and
19operated without injury to the public health.

20(c) The department shall conduct an investigation of complaints
21received concerning a clinical laboratory that may include an
22inspection of the laboratory.

23(d) (1) Each clinical laboratory shall perform all clinical
24laboratory tests or examinations classified as waived under CLIA
25in conformity with the manufacturer’s instructions.

26(2) Except for those clinical laboratories performing only tests
27or examinations classified as waived under CLIA, each clinical
28laboratory shall establish and maintain all of the following:

29(A) A patient test management system that meets the standards
30of CLIA in Subpart J (commencing with Section 493.1100) of
31Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

32(B) A quality control program that meets the requirements of
33CLIA in Subpart K (commencing with Section 493.1200) of Title
3442 of the Code of Federal Regulations as in effect on January 1,
352015, and that may include the clinical laboratory’s use of an
36Individualized Quality Control Plan, as incorporated into Appendix
37 C of the State Operations Manual adopted by the federal Centers
38for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

P11   1(C) A comprehensive quality assurance program that meets the
2standards of CLIA in Subpart P (commencing with Section
3493.1701) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

4

SEC. 6.  

Section 1223 of the Business and Professions Code is
5repealed.

6

SEC. 7.  

Section 1223 is added to the Business and Professions
7Code
, to read:

8

1223.  

begin insert(a)end insertbegin insertend insertClinical laboratories shallbegin delete choose to be overseenend delete
9begin insert select to be regulatedend insert by the department, pursuant tobegin delete subdivision
10(a),end delete
begin insert paragraph (1),end insert or may seek certification of deemed status by
11an accrediting organization approved under CLIA, pursuant to
12begin delete subdivision (b).end deletebegin insert paragraph (2).end insert The accrediting organization may
13issue certificates of deemed status and may provide continued
14oversight to ensure compliance with state law.

begin delete

7 15(a)

end delete

16begin insert(1)end insert The department shall monitor, inspect, and investigate all
17clinical laboratories that are not accredited by an organization
18approved under CLIA for compliance with state standards that are
19in excess of federal standards.

begin delete

20(b) (1) 

end delete

21begin insert(2)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insert(A)end insertbegin insertend insertA clinical laboratory that is accredited by an
22organization approved under CLIA shall be deemed to meet all
23state standards and shall not require monitoring, inspection, or
24investigation pursuant tobegin delete subdivision (a),end deletebegin insert paragraph (1)end insert but may
25be subject to investigation by the department under other provisions
26of law.

begin delete

16 27(2)

end delete

28begin insert(B)end insert An accrediting organization shall provide the department
29with documentation of approval by the federal Centers for Medicare
30& Medicaid Services as an accrediting body under CLIA, a detailed
31comparison of the individual accreditation or approval
32requirements, with the comparable California condition-level
33requirements, including standards that are in excess of federal law,
34and a list of all of the clinical laboratories that operate in California,
35including the CLIA number and the expiration date of their
36accreditation, as applicable.

begin delete

25 37(c)

end delete

38begin insert(b)end insert The department may concentrate its resources on upholding
39personnel standards.

begin insert

P12   1
(c) (1) The department may charge a fee to inspect clinical
2laboratories that are regulated by the department pursuant to
3paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). The fee shall be assessed upon
4inspection and shall be set at the reasonable cost of inspection,
5but in no case shall the fee exceed one thousand fifty dollars
6($1,050).

end insert
begin insert

7
(2) The department shall not assess a fee pursuant to this
8subdivision until the balance in the Clinical Laboratory
9Improvement Fund that is attributable to fees assessed on clinical
10laboratories under Section 1300, as it existed prior to January 1,
112017, is less than one million dollars ($1,000,000).

end insert
12

SEC. 8.  

Section 1227 of the Business and Professions Code is
13repealed.

14

SEC. 9.  

Section 1227 is added to the Business and Professions
15Code
, to read:

16

1227.  

The department shall post on its Internet Web site a
17comprehensive list of the differences between statebegin insert lawend insert and CLIA.

18

SEC. 10.  

Section 1241.1 of the Business and Professions Code
19 is repealed.

20

SEC. 11.  

Section 1244 of the Business and Professions Code
21 is amended to read:

22

1244.  

begin insert(a)end insertbegin insertend insert This chapter does not restrict, limit, or prevent a
23program of nondiagnostic general health assessment provided that:

24(1) The program complies with the requirements of CLIA for
25waived testing.

26(2) The purpose of the program is to screen asymptomatic
27individuals for chronic health disorders and to refer individuals to
28licensed sources of care as indicated.

29(3) The program does not test for human immunodeficiency
30virus or any reportable disease or condition identified in Section
31120130 of the Health and Safety Code or the regulations adopted
32under that section.

33(4) The program utilizes only those devices that comply with
34all of the following:

35(A) Meet all applicable state and federal performance standards
36pursuant to Section 111245 of the Health and Safety Code.

37(B) Are not adulterated as specified in Article 2 (commencing
38with Section 111250) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of
39the Health and Safety Code.

P13   1(C) Are not misbranded as specified in Article 3 (commencing
2with Section 111330) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of
3the Health and Safety Code.

4(D) Are not new devices unless they meet the requirements of
5Section 111550 of the Health and Safety Code.

6(E) Are approved as waived tests and are used according to the
7 manufacturer’s instructions.

8(5) Blood collection is performed by skin puncture only.

9(6) Testing of a urine specimen is performed by the dipstick
10method only.

11(7) Testing is performedbegin delete on siteend deletebegin insert on-siteend insert and reported directly to
12the person requesting the test.

13(8) The program maintains a supervisory committee consisting
14of, at a minimum, a licensed physician and surgeon and a clinical
15laboratory scientist licensed pursuant to this code.

16(9) The supervisory committee for the program adopts written
17protocols that shall be followed in the program and that shall
18contain all of the following:

19(A) Provision of written information to individuals to be
20assessed that shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

21(i) The potential risks and benefits of assessment procedures to
22be performed in the program.

23(ii) The limitations, including the nondiagnostic nature, of
24assessment examinations of biological specimens performed in
25the program.

26(iii) Information regarding the risk factors or markers targeted
27by the program.

28(iv) The need for followup with licensed sources of care for
29confirmation, diagnosis, and treatment as appropriate.

30(B) Proper use of each device utilized in the program including
31the operation of analyzers, maintenance of equipment and supplies,
32and performance of quality control procedures including the
33determination of both accuracy and reproducibility of
34measurements in accordance with instructions provided by the
35manufacturer of the assessment device used.

36(C) Proper procedures to be employed when collecting blood,
37if blood specimens are to be obtained.

38(D) Proper procedures to be employed in handling and disposing
39of all biological specimens to be obtained and material
40contaminated by those biological specimens. These procedures
P14   1shall comply with all county and city ordinances for medical waste
2management and blood-borne pathogen control that apply to the
3location where the program operates.

4(E) Proper procedures to be employed in response to fainting,
5excessive bleeding, or other medical emergencies.

6(F) Documentation that the testing personnel are following the
7instructions of the instrument’s manufacturer, are trained in the
8performance of the test, and are competent to perform the testing
9without supervision.

10(G) Reporting of assessment results to the individual being
11assessed.

12(H) Referral and followup to licensed sources of care as
13indicated.

14(10) begin delete(a)end deletebegin deleteend deleteThe written protocols adopted by the supervisory
15committee shall be maintained for at least one year following
16completion of the assessment program, during which period they
17shall be subject to review by department personnel and the local
18health officer or his or her designee, including the public health
19laboratory director.

20(b) If skin puncture to obtain a blood specimen is to be
21performed in a program of nondiagnostic general health
22assessment, the individual performing the skin puncture shall be
23authorized to perform skin puncture under this chapter.

24(c) A program of nondiagnostic general health assessment that
25fails to meet the requirements set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b)
26shall not operate.

27(d) For purposes of this section, “skin puncture” means the
28collection of a blood specimen by the finger prick method only
29and does not include venipuncture, arterial puncture, or any other
30procedure for obtaining a blood specimen.

31(e) This chapter does not prohibit a licensed clinical laboratory
32from operating a program of nondiagnostic general health
33assessment provided that the clinical laboratory complies with the
34requirements of this section.

35(f) A program for a health fair providing diagnostic or screening
36tests is not a nondiagnostic general health assessment program if
37all of the requirements of this chapter are met, and the laboratory
38performing the testing is licensed by federal law or is operating
39with a waiver for the applicable procedures. For a test that is not
40authorized for self-ordering pursuant to Section 1246.5 and that
P15   1is not for a nondiagnostic general health assessment pursuant to
2this section, the clinical laboratory participating in the health fair
3shall assure that the test is ordered onsite only by a person licensed
4under this division who is authorized under his or her scope of
5practice to order the test or by a person authorized by that licensee.
6The results of a test performed at a health fair shall be provided
7to the test subject along with an explanation of the results.

8

SEC. 12.  

Section 1246.5 of the Business and Professions Code
9 is amended to read:

10

1246.5.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a person may
11request, and a licensed clinical laboratory or public health
12laboratory may perform, the laboratory tests specified in this
13section. A registered clinical laboratory may perform the laboratory
14tests specified in this section if the test is subject to a certificate
15of waiver under CLIA. A program for nondiagnostic general health
16assessment that includes a laboratory test specified in this section
17shall comply with the provisions of Section 1244. The results from
18any test may be provided directly to the person requesting the test
19if the test is on or for his or her own body. These test results shall
20be provided in a manner that presents clear information and that
21identifies results indicating the need for referral to a physician and
22 surgeon.

23(b) The tests that may be conducted pursuant to this section are:
24pregnancy, glucose level, cholesterol, occult blood, and any other
25test for which there is a test for a particular analyte approved by
26the federal Food and Drug Administration for sale to the public
27without a prescription in the form of an over-the-counter test kit.
28A test approved only as an over-the-counter collection device may
29not be conducted pursuant to this section.

30

SEC. 13.  

Section 1265 of the Business and Professions Code
31 is repealed.

32

SEC. 14.  

Section 1265.1 of the Business and Professions Code
33 is repealed.

34

SEC. 15.  

Section 1266 of the Business and Professions Code
35 is repealed.

36

SEC. 16.  

Section 1267 of the Business and Professions Code
37 is repealed.

38

SEC. 17.  

Section 1268 of the Business and Professions Code
39 is repealed.

P16   1

SEC. 18.  

Section 1271.1 of the Business and Professions Code
2 is amended to read:

3

1271.1.  

(a) A clinical laboratory that provides cytology
4services shall, if the laboratory ceases operation, preserve records,
5reports, cytology slides, and cell blocks as prescribed in subdivision
6(g) of Section 1271 and Section 1274.

7(b) A person injured as a result of the laboratory’s abandonment
8of records may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction
9for the amount of damages suffered as a result. If the laboratory
10was a corporation or partnership that has been dissolved, the person
11injured may bring an action against that corporation’s or
12partnership’s principal officers of record at the time of the
13dissolution.

14(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall
15apply:

16(1) “Abandonment of records” means violating subdivision (a)
17and thereby leaving patients and physicians and surgeons without
18access to information to which they are entitled pursuant to this
19chapter.

20(2) “Principal officers” means:

21(A) In the case of a partnership other than a limited partnership,
22any partner.

23(B) In the case of a limited partnership, any general partner, as
24defined in Section 15904.02 of the Corporations Code.

25(C) In the case of a corporation, the chairperson of the board,
26the chief executive officer, and the president of the corporation.

27

SEC. 19.  

Section 1272 of the Business and Professions Code
28 is amended to read:

29

1272.  

A clinical laboratory shall participate in a CLIA-approved
30proficiency testing program and demonstrate satisfactory
31performance in all of the laboratory specialities that include tests
32performed in the laboratory. Proficiency shall be tested in the
33following specialties: microbiology, serology, clinical chemistry,
34hematology, cytology, and immunohematology.

35

SEC. 20.  

Section 1272.1 is added to the Business and
36Professions Code
, to read:

37

1272.1.  

(a) If a clinical laboratory ceases operations, the
38laboratory owners, or delegated representatives of the owners, and
39the laboratory directors shall notify the department of this fact, in
40writing, within 30 calendar days from the date a clinical laboratory
P17   1ceases operation. For purposes of this section, a laboratory ceases
2operations when it suspends the performance of all clinical
3laboratory tests or examinations for 30 calendar days at the location
4for which the clinical laboratory is licensed or registered.

5(b)  (1) Notwithstanding any other law, owners and laboratory
6directors of all clinical laboratories, including those laboratories
7that cease operations, shall preserve medical records and laboratory
8records, as defined in this section, for three years from the date of
9testing, examination, or purchase, unless a longer retention period
10is required by any other law, and shall maintain an ability to
11provide those records when requested by the department or any
12duly authorized representative of the department.

13(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “medical records” means
14the test requisition or test authorization, or the patient’s chart or
15medical record if used as the test requisition, the final and
16preliminary test or examination result, and the name of the person
17contacted if the laboratory test or examination result indicated an
18imminent life-threatening result or was of panic value.

19(3) For purposes of this subdivision, “laboratory records” means
20 records showing compliance with CLIA and this chapter during a
21laboratory’s operation that are actual or true copies, either
22photocopies or electronically reproducible copies, of records for
23patient test management, quality control, quality assurance, and
24all invoices documenting the purchase or lease of laboratory
25equipment and test kits, reagents, or media.

26(4) Information contained in medical records and laboratory
27records shall be confidential, and shall be disclosed only to
28authorized persons in accordance with federal, state, and local
29laws.

30(c) The department or any person injured as a result of a
31laboratory’s abandonment or failure to retain records pursuant to
32this section may bring an action in a court of proper jurisdiction
33for any reasonable amount of damages suffered as a result thereof.

34

SEC. 21.  

Section 1272.4 of the Business and Professions Code
35 is repealed.

36

SEC. 22.  

Section 1272.6 of the Business and Professions Code
37 is repealed.

38

SEC. 23.  

Section 1281 of the Business and Professions Code
39 is repealed.

P18   1

SEC. 24.  

Section 1300 of the Business and Professions Code
2 is amended to read:

3

1300.  

The amount of application and license fees under this
4chapter shall be as follows:

5(a) The application fee for a histocompatibility laboratory
6director’s, clinical laboratory bioanalyst’s, clinical chemist’s,
7clinical microbiologist’s, clinical laboratory toxicologist’s, clinical
8cytogeneticist’s, or clinical genetic molecular biologist’s license
9is sixty-three dollars ($63).

10(b) The annual renewal fee for a histocompatibility laboratory
11director’s, clinical laboratory bioanalyst’s, clinical chemist’s,
12clinical microbiologist’s, clinical laboratory toxicologist’s, clinical
13cytogeneticist’s, or clinical genetic molecular biologist’s license
14is sixty-three dollars ($63).

15(c) The application fee for a clinical laboratory scientist’s or
16limited clinical laboratory scientist’s license is thirty-eight dollars
17($38).

18(d) The application and annual renewal fee for a
19cytotechnologist’s license is fifty dollars ($50).

20(e) The annual renewal fee for a clinical laboratory scientist’s
21or limited clinical laboratory scientist’s license is twenty-five
22dollars ($25).

23(f) The application fee for a trainee’s license is thirteen dollars
24($13).

25(g) The annual renewal fee for a trainee’s license is eight dollars
26($8).

27(h) The application fee for a duplicate license is five dollars
28($5).

29(i) The personnel licensing delinquency fee is equal to the annual
30renewal fee.

31(j) The director may establish a fee for examinations required
32under this chapter. The fee shall not exceed the total cost to the
33department in conducting the examination.

34(k) The state, a district, city, county, city and county, or other
35political subdivision, or a public officer or body shall be subject
36to the payment of fees established pursuant to this chapter or
37regulations adopted thereunder.

38(l) The department shall establish an application fee and a
39renewal fee for a medical laboratory technician license, the total
40fees collected not to exceed the costs of the department for the
P19   1implementation and operation of the program licensing and
2regulating medical laboratory technicians pursuant to Section
3 1260.3.

4

SEC. 25.  

Section 1300.1 of the Business and Professions Code
5 is repealed.

6

SEC. 26.  

Section 1301 of the Business and Professions Code
7 is amended to read:

8

1301.  

(a) The department shall give written notice to all
9persons licensed pursuant to Section 1260, 1260.1, 1261, 1261.5,
101262, 1264, or 1270 at least 30 days in advance of the regular
11renewal date that a renewal fee has not been paid. In addition, the
12department shall give written notice to licensed clinical laboratory
13bioanalysts or doctoral degree specialists and clinical laboratory
14scientists or limited clinical laboratory scientists by registered or
15certified mail 90 days in advance of the expiration of the fifth year
16that a renewal fee has not been paid and, if not paid before the
17expiration of the fifth year of delinquency, the licensee may be
18subject to reexamination.

19(b) If the renewal fee is not paid for five or more years, the
20department may require an examination before reinstating the
21license, except that an examination shall not be required as a
22condition for reinstatement if the original license was issued
23without an examination. An examination shall not be required for
24reinstatement if the license was forfeited solely by reason of
25nonpayment of the renewal fee if the nonpayment was for less than
26five years.

27(c) If the license is not renewed within 60 days after its
28expiration, the licensee, as a condition precedent to renewal, shall
29pay the delinquency fee identified in subdivision (i) of Section
301300, in addition to the renewal fee in effect on the last preceding
31regular renewal date. Payment of the delinquency fee is not
32necessary if, within 60 days of the license expiration date, the
33licensee files an application for inactive status.

34

SEC. 27.  

Section 1310 of the Business and Professions Code
35 is repealed.

36

SEC. 28.  

Section 1310 is added to the Business and Professions
37Code
, to read:

38

1310.  

(a) If the department determines that a clinical laboratory
39does not substantially meet the requirements of this chapter or
40federal law, the department may impose any of the following:

P20   1(1) Directed plans of correction, as defined under CLIA.

2(2) Civil money penalties in an amount ranging from fifty dollars
3($50) to three thousand dollars ($3,000) per day of noncompliance,
4or per violation, for a condition-level deficiency that does not pose
5immediate jeopardy, to an amount ranging from three thousand
6fifty dollars ($3,050) to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day of
7noncompliance, or per violation, for a condition-level deficiency
8that poses immediate jeopardy, but only after notice and an
9opportunity to respond in accordance with Section 100171 of the
10Health and Safety Code, and consideration of facts enumerated in
11CLIA in Section 493.1834 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal
12Regulations.

13(3) Civil money penalties in an amount ranging from fifty dollars
14($50) to three thousand dollars ($3,000) per day of noncompliance,
15or per violation, for failure to comply with disease reporting
16requirements, but only after notice and an opportunity to respond
17in accordance with Section 100171 of the Health and Safety Code.

18(4) Onsite monitoring, as defined under CLIA, and payment for
19the costs of onsite monitoring.

20(5) Any combination of the actions described in paragraphs (1)
21to (4), inclusive.

22(b) The department or its agents may enter and inspect a clinical
23laboratory at any time to enforce state laws and regulations,
24including, but not limited to, state standards that are more stringent
25than federal standards.

begin insert

26
(c) The costs to the department in conducting a complaint
27investigation, imposing sanctions, or conducting a hearing under
28this chapter shall be paid by the clinical laboratory. The fee shall
29not exceed the fee that the clinical laboratory would pay under
30CLIA for the same type of activity and shall not be payable if the
31clinical laboratory would not be required to pay those fees under
32CLIA.

end insert
33

SEC. 29.  

Section 1320 of the Business and Professions Code
34 is amended to read:

35

1320.  

The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a license
36issued pursuant to this chapter for any of the following reasons:

37(a) Conduct involving moral turpitude or dishonest reporting
38of tests.

39(b) Violation by the applicant or licensee of this chapter or a
40rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto.

P21   1(c) Aiding, abetting, or permitting the violation of this chapter,
2the rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, or the
3Medical Practice Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000)
4of Division 2).

5(d) Permitting a licensed trainee to perform tests or procure
6specimens unless under direct and responsible supervision.

7(e) Violation of any provision of this code governing the practice
8of medicine and surgery.

9(f) Proof that an applicant or licensee has made false statements
10in any material regard on the application for a license or renewal
11issued pursuant to this chapter.

12(g) Conduct inimical to the public health, morals, welfare, or
13safety of the people of the State of California in the provision of
14services for which a license is issued pursuant to this chapter.

15(h) Proof that the applicant or licensee has used a degree or
16certificate as a means of qualifying for licensure that has been
17purchased or procured by barter or by any unlawful means or
18obtained from an institution that, at the time the degree, certificate,
19or title was obtained, was not recognized or accredited by the
20department of education of the state where the institution is or was
21located to give training in the field of study in which the degree,
22certificate, or title is claimed.

23(i) Violation of any of the prenatal laws or regulations pertaining
24thereto in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 120675) of Part
253 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code and Article 1
26(commencing with Section 1125) of Group 4 of Subchapter 1 of
27Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Title 17 of the California Code of
28Regulations.

29(j) Knowingly accepting an assignment for clinical laboratory
30 tests or specimens from, and the rendering of a report thereon to,
31persons not authorized by law to submit those specimens or
32assignments.

33(k) Rendering a report on clinical laboratory work actually
34performed in another clinical laboratory without designating clearly
35the name and address of the laboratory in which the test was
36performed.

37(l) Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral
38turpitude under the laws of any state or of the United States arising
39out of or in connection with the practice of clinical laboratory
P22   1technology. The record of conviction or a certified copy thereof
2shall be conclusive evidence of that conviction.

3(m) Unprofessional conduct.

4(n) The use of drugs or alcoholic beverages to the extent or in
5a manner as to be dangerous to a person licensed under this chapter,
6or any other person to the extent that use impairs the ability of the
7licensee to conduct, with safety to the public, the practice of clinical
8laboratory technology.

9(o) Misrepresentation in obtaining a license.

10(p) Performance of a clinical laboratory test or examination or
11other procedure that is not within the specialties or subspecialties,
12or category of laboratory procedures authorized by the license.

13

SEC. 30.  

Section 1324 of the Business and Professions Code
14 is repealed.

15

SEC. 31.  

Section 1325 of the Business and Professions Code
16 is repealed.

17

SEC. 32.  

Section 9272 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
18amended to read:

19

9272.  

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply (1) to
20facilities primarily engaged in the collection, preparation, testing,
21processing, storage, or distribution of human blood or blood
22products, provided the facility is licensed pursuant to Chapter 4
23(commencing with Section 1600) of Division 2 of the Health and
24Safety Code and any biologic, as defined in Section 9203, produced
25by the facility is sold or distributed only to an establishment
26licensed by this chapter or (2) to clinical laboratories whose only
27biologics are autogenous bacterins prepared at the request of
28licensed veterinarians.

29

SEC. 33.  

Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code is
30amended to read:

31

1206.  

This chapter does not apply to the following:

32(a) Except with respect to the option provided with regard to
33surgical clinics in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1204
34and, further, with respect to specialty clinics specified in paragraph
35(2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1204, a place or establishment
36owned or leased and operated as a clinic or office by one or more
37licensed health care practitioners and used as an office for the
38practice of their profession, within the scope of their license,
39regardless of the name used publicly to identify the place or
40establishment.

P23   1(b) A clinic directly conducted, maintained, or operated by the
2United States or by any of its departments, officers, or agencies,
3and any primary care clinic specified in subdivision (a) of Section
41204 that is directly conducted, maintained, or operated by this
5state or by any of its political subdivisions or districts, or by any
6city. Nothing in this subdivision precludes the department from
7adopting regulations that utilize clinic licensing standards as
8eligibility criteria for participation in programs funded wholly or
9partially under Title XVIII or XIX of the federal Social Security
10Act.

11(c) (1) A clinic conducted, maintained, or operated by a
12federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined
13in Section 450 or 1603 of Title 25 of the United States Code, that
14is located on land recognized as tribal land by the federal
15government.

16(2) A clinic conducted, maintained, or operated by a federally
17recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in Section
18450 or 1603 of Title 25 of the United States Code, under a contract
19with the United States pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination
20and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638), regardless of
21the location of the clinic, except that if the clinic chooses to apply
22to the State Department of Public Health for a state facility license,
23then the State Department of Public Health will retain authority
24to regulate that clinic as a primary care clinic as defined by
25subdivision (a) of Section 1204.

26(d) Clinics conducted, operated, or maintained as outpatient
27departments of hospitals.

28(e) A facility licensed as a health facility under Chapter 2
29(commencing with Section 1250).

30(f) A freestanding clinical or pathological laboratory.

31(g) A clinic operated by, or affiliated with, an institution of
32learning that teaches a recognized healing art and is approved by
33the state board or commission vested with responsibility for
34regulation of the practice of that healing art.

35(h) A clinic that is operated by a primary care community or
36free clinic and that is operated on separate premises from the
37licensed clinic and is only open for limited services of no more
38than 30 hours a week. An intermittent clinic, as described in this
39subdivision, shall meet all other requirements of law, including
P24   1administrative regulations and requirements, pertaining to fire and
2life safety.

3(i) The offices of physicians in group practice who provide a
4preponderance of their services to members of a comprehensive
5group practice prepayment health care service plan subject to
6Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340).

7(j) Student health centers operated by public institutions of
8higher education.

9(k) Nonprofit speech and hearing centers, as defined in Section
101201.5. A nonprofit speech and hearing clinic desiring an
11exemption under this subdivision shall apply to the director, who
12shall grant the exemption to any facility meeting the criteria of
13Section 1201.5. Notwithstanding the licensure exemption contained
14in this subdivision, a nonprofit speech and hearing center shall be
15deemed to be an organized outpatient clinic for purposes of
16qualifying for reimbursement as a rehabilitation center under the
17Medi-Cal Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of
18Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code).

19(l) A clinic operated by a nonprofit corporation exempt from
20federal income taxation under paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of
21Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended,
22or a statutory successor thereof, that conducts medical research
23and health education and provides health care to its patients through
24a group of 40 or more physicians and surgeons, who are
25independent contractors representing not less than 10
26board-certified specialties, and not less than two-thirds of whom
27practice on a full-time basis at the clinic.

28(m) A clinic, limited to in vivo diagnostic services by magnetic
29resonance imaging functions or radiological services under the
30direct and immediate supervision of a physician and surgeon who
31is licensed to practice in California. This shall not be construed to
32permit cardiac catheterization or any treatment modality in these
33clinics.

34(n) A clinic operated by an employer or jointly by two or more
35employers for their employees only, or by a group of employees,
36or jointly by employees and employers, without profit to the
37operators thereof or to any other person, for the prevention and
38treatment of accidental injuries to, and the care of the health of,
39the employees comprising the group.

P25   1(o) A community mental health center, as defined in Section
25667 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

3(p) (1) A clinic operated by a nonprofit corporation exempt
4from federal income taxation under paragraph (3) of subsection
5(c) of Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as
6amended, or a statutory successor thereof, as an entity organized
7and operated exclusively for scientific and charitable purposes and
8that satisfied all of the following requirements on or before January
91, 2005:

10(A) Commenced conducting medical research on or before
11January 1, 1982, and continues to conduct medical research.

12(B) Conducted research in, among other areas, prostatic cancer,
13cardiovascular disease, electronic neural prosthetic devices,
14biological effects and medical uses of lasers, and human magnetic
15resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

16(C) Sponsored publication of at least 200 medical research
17articles in peer-reviewed publications.

18(D) Received grants and contracts from the National Institutes
19of Health.

20(E) Held and licensed patents on medical technology.

21(F) Received charitable contributions and bequests totaling at
22least five million dollars ($5,000,000).

23(G) Provides health care services to patients only:

24(i) In conjunction with research being conducted on procedures
25or applications not approved or only partially approved for payment
26(I) under the Medicare program pursuant to Section 1359y(a)(1)(A)
27of Title 42 of the United States Code, or (II) by a health care service
28plan registered under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340),
29or a disability insurer regulated under Chapter 1 (commencing
30with Section 10110) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code;
31provided that services may be provided by the clinic for an
32additional period of up to three years following the approvals, but
33only to the extent necessary to maintain clinical expertise in the
34procedure or application for purposes of actively providing training
35in the procedure or application for physicians and surgeons
36unrelated to the clinic.

37(ii) Through physicians and surgeons who, in the aggregate,
38devote no more than 30 percent of their professional time for the
39entity operating the clinic, on an annual basis, to direct patient care
40activities for which charges for professional services are paid.

P26   1(H) Makes available to the public the general results of its
2research activities on at least an annual basis, subject to good faith
3protection of proprietary rights in its intellectual property.

4(I) Is a freestanding clinic, whose operations under this
5subdivision are not conducted in conjunction with any affiliated
6or associated health clinic or facility defined under this division,
7except a clinic exempt from licensure under subdivision (m). For
8purposes of this subparagraph, a freestanding clinic is defined as
9“affiliated” only if it directly, or indirectly through one or more
10intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
11control with, a clinic or health facility defined under this division,
12except a clinic exempt from licensure under subdivision (m). For
13purposes of this subparagraph, a freestanding clinic is defined as
14“associated” only if more than 20 percent of the directors or trustees
15of the clinic are also the directors or trustees of any individual
16clinic or health facility defined under this division, except a clinic
17exempt from licensure under subdivision (m). Any activity by a
18clinic under this subdivision in connection with an affiliated or
19associated entity shall fully comply with the requirements of this
20subdivision. This subparagraph shall not apply to agreements
21between a clinic and any entity for purposes of coordinating
22medical research.

23(2) By January 1, 2007, and every five years thereafter, the
24Legislature shall receive a report from each clinic meeting the
25criteria of this subdivision and any other interested party
26concerning the operation of the clinic’s activities. The report shall
27include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of how the clinic
28impacted competition in the relevant health care market, and a
29detailed description of the clinic’s research results and the level
30of acceptance by the payer community of the procedures performed
31at the clinic. The report shall also include a description of
32procedures performed both in clinics governed by this subdivision
33and those performed in other settings. The cost of preparing the
34reports shall be borne by the clinics that are required to submit
35them to the Legislature pursuant to this paragraph.

36

SEC. 34.  

Section 1600.3 of the Health and Safety Code is
37amended to read:

38

1600.3.  

“Blood bank depository” means a place other than a
39blood bank where human whole blood and human whole blood
40derivatives specified by regulation are stored and held for
P27   1transfusion. Blood bank depositories shall be clinical laboratories,
2licensed in accordance with the provisions of federal law, or other
3places where services essentially equivalent are maintained, as
4determined by the department.

5

SEC. 35.  

Section 14043.27 of the Welfare and Institutions
6Code
is amended to read:

7

14043.27.  

(a) If an applicant or provider is granted provisional
8provider status or preferred provisional provider status pursuant
9to Section 14043.26 and, if at any time during the provisional
10provider status period or preferred provisional provider status
11period, the department conducts any announced or unannounced
12visits or any additional inspections or reviews pursuant to this
13chapter or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), or the
14regulations adopted thereunder, or pursuant to Section 100185.5
15of the Health and Safety Code, and discovers or otherwise
16determines the existence of any ground to deactivate the provider’s
17number and business addresses or suspend the provider from the
18Medi-Cal program pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 8
19(commencing with Section 14200), or the regulations adopted
20thereunder, or pursuant to Section 100185.5 of the Health and
21Safety Code, or if any of the circumstances listed in subdivision
22(c) occur, the department shall terminate the provisional provider
23status or preferred provisional provider status of the provider,
24regardless of whether the period of time for which the provisional
25provider status or preferred provisional provider status was granted
26under Section 14043.26 has elapsed.

27(b) Termination of provisional provider status or preferred
28provisional provider status shall include deactivation of the
29provider’s number, including all business addresses used by the
30provider to obtain reimbursement from the Medi-Cal program and
31removal of the provider from enrollment in the Medi-Cal program,
32except where the termination is based upon a ground related solely
33to a specific location for which provisional provider status was
34granted. Termination of provisional provider status based upon
35grounds related solely to a specific location may include failure
36to have an established place of business, failure to possess the
37business or zoning permits or other approvals necessary to operate
38a business, or failure to possess the appropriate licenses, permits,
39or certificates necessary for the provider of service category or
40subcategory identified by the provider in its application package.
P28   1Where the grounds relate solely to a specific location, the
2termination of provisional provider status shall include only
3deactivation of the specific locations that the grounds apply to and
4shall include removal of the provider from enrollment in the
5Medi-Cal program only if, after deactivation of the specific
6locations, the provider does not have any business address that is
7not deactivated.

8(c) The following circumstances are grounds for termination of
9provisional provider status or preferred provisional provider status:

10(1) The provider, persons with an ownership or control interest
11in the provider, or persons who are directors, officers, or managing
12employees of the provider have been convicted of any felony, or
13convicted of any misdemeanor involving fraud or abuse in any
14government program, related to neglect or abuse of a patient in
15connection with the delivery of a health care item or service, or in
16connection with the interference with, or obstruction of, any
17investigation into health care related fraud or abuse, or have been
18found liable for fraud or abuse in any civil proceeding, or have
19entered into a settlement in lieu of conviction for fraud or abuse
20in any government program within 10 years of the date of the
21application package.

22(2) There is a material discrepancy in the information provided
23to the department, or with the requirements to be enrolled, that is
24discovered after provisional provider status or preferred provisional
25provider status has been granted and that cannot be corrected
26because the discrepancy occurred in the past.

27(3) The provider has provided material information that was
28false or misleading at the time it was provided.

29(4) The provider failed to have an established place of business
30at the business address for which the application package was
31submitted at the time of any onsite inspection, announced or
32unannounced visit, or any additional inspection or review
33conducted pursuant to this article or a statute or regulation
34governing the Medi-Cal program, unless the practice of the
35provider’s profession or delivery of services, goods, supplies, or
36merchandise is such that services, goods, supplies, or merchandise
37are rendered or delivered at locations other than the business
38address and this practice or delivery of services, goods, supplies,
39or merchandise has been disclosed in the application package
P29   1approved by the department when the provisional provider status
2or preferred provisional provider status was granted.

3(5) The provider meets the definition of a clinic under Section
41200 of the Health and Safety Code, but is not licensed as a clinic
5pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200) of Division
62 of the Health and Safety Code and fails to meet the requirements
7to qualify for at least one exemption pursuant to Section 1206 or
81206.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

9(6) The provider performs clinical laboratory tests or
10examinations, but it or its personnel do not meet CLIA, and the
11regulations adopted thereunder, do not possess valid CLIA
12certificates, or are not exempt pursuant to Section 1241 of the
13Business and Professions Code.

14(7) The provider fails to possess either of the following:

15(A) The appropriate licenses, permits, certificates, or other
16approvals needed to practice the profession or occupation, or
17provide the services, goods, supplies, or merchandise the provider
18identified in the application package approved by the department
19when the provisional provider status or preferred provisional
20provider status was granted and for the location for which the
21application was submitted.

22(B) The business or zoning permits or other approvals necessary
23to operate a business at the location identified in its application
24package approved by the department when the provisional provider
25status or preferred provisional provider status was granted.

26(8) The provider, or if the provider is a clinic, group, partnership,
27corporation, or other association, any officer, director, or
28shareholder with a 10 percent or greater interest in that
29organization, commits two or more violations of the federal or
30state statutes or regulations governing the Medi-Cal program, and
31the violations demonstrate a pattern or practice of fraud, abuse, or
32provision of unnecessary or substandard medical services.

33(9) The provider commits any violation of a federal or state
34statute or regulation governing the Medi-Cal program or of a statute
35or regulation governing the provider’s profession or occupation
36and the violation represents a threat of immediate jeopardy or
37significant harm to any Medi-Cal beneficiary or to the public
38welfare.

39(10) The provider submits claims for payment that subject a
40provider to suspension under Section 14043.61.

P30   1(11) The provider submits claims for payment for services,
2goods, supplies, or merchandise rendered at a location other than
3the business address or addresses listed on the application for
4enrollment, unless the practice of the provider’s profession or
5delivery of services, goods, supplies, or merchandise is such that
6services, goods, supplies, or merchandise are rendered or delivered
7at locations other than the business address and this practice or
8delivery of services, goods, supplies, or merchandise has been
9disclosed in the application package approved by the department
10when the provisional provider status was granted.

11(12) The provider has not paid its fine, or has a debt due and
12owing, including overpayments and penalty assessments, to any
13federal, state, or local government entity that relates to Medicare,
14begin delete medicaid,end deletebegin insert Medicaid,end insert Medi-Cal, or any other federal or state health
15care program, and has not made satisfactory arrangements to fulfill
16the obligation or otherwise been excused by legal process from
17fulfilling the obligation.

18(d) If, during a provisional provider status period or a preferred
19provisional provider status period, the department conducts any
20announced or unannounced visits or any additional inspections or
21reviews pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 8 (commencing with
22Section 14200), or the regulations adopted thereunder, and
23commences an investigation for fraud or abuse, or discovers or
24otherwise determines that the provider is under investigation for
25fraud or abuse by any other state, local, or federal government law
26enforcement agency, the provider shall be subject to termination
27of provisional provider status or preferred provisional provider
28status, regardless of whether the period of time for which the
29provisional provider status or preferred provisional provider status
30was granted under Section 14043.26 has elapsed.

31(e) A provider whose provisional provider status or preferred
32provisional provider status has been terminated pursuant to this
33section may appeal the termination in accordance with Section
3414043.65.

35(f) Any department-recovered fine or debt due and owing,
36including overpayments, that are subsequently determined to have
37been erroneously collected shall be promptly refunded to the
P31   1provider, together with interest paid in accordance with subdivision
2(e) of Section 14171 and Section 14172.5.



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