BILL NUMBER: AB 2345	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act relating to health care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2345, as introduced, Ridley-Thomas. Health care: patient
access.
   Existing law establishes the Office of Patient Advocate, within
the California Health and Human Services Agency, to provide
assistance to, and advocate on behalf of, health care consumers. The
goal of the office is to coordinate amongst, provide assistance to,
and collect data from, all of the state agency consumer assistance or
patient assistance programs and call centers, to better enable
health care consumers to access the health care services to which
they are eligible under the law, including, but not limited to,
commercial and exchange coverage, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and federal
veterans health benefits.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to require a study regarding the problems confronted by
patients in accessing health care in California.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to require a study regarding the problems confronted by
patients in accessing health care in California.