BILL NUMBER: AB 2345	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act  to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 127650) to
Part 2 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code,   relating
to health care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2345, as amended, Ridley-Thomas.  Health care: patient
access.   Commission on Health Care Cost Review. 

   Existing law establishes various programs relating to health
policy and planning in this state. Existing law establishes the
California Health Benefit Review Program to assess legislation that
proposes to mandate or repeal a mandated health benefit or service,
as defined, and to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on
specified information, including public health impacts and financial
impacts.  
   This bill would establish the Commission on Health Care Cost
Review to study and report every 2 years to the Assembly and Senate
Committees on Health on public policies affecting health care costs
and access to health care coverage in California. The commission
would be comprised of 5 members, with 3 members appointed by the
Governor, one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and
one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, subject to
4-year terms. The bill would authorize the Department of Managed
Health Care to accept voluntary contributions to be deposited into
the Health Care Affordability Fund, which the bill would create in
the State Treasury, to fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature,
the costs of the operation of the commission. The bill would provide
that the implementation of these provisions is contingent upon a
determination of the department that sufficient voluntary
contributions exist or will exist in the Health Care Affordability
Fund.  
   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
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Chapter 6 (commencing with Section
127650) is added to Part 2 of Division 107 of   the 
 Health and Safety Code   , to read:  
      CHAPTER 6.  COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE COST REVIEW


   127650.  The Commission on Health Care Cost Review is hereby
created.
   127651.  (a) The commission shall consist of five members. Three
members shall be appointed by the Governor, one member shall be
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one member shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. Each member shall serve a
term of four years.
   (b) Members of the commission shall not receive compensation. The
commission may conduct virtual meetings.
   127652.  (a) The commission shall study and analyze public
policies affecting health care costs and access to health care
coverage in California.
   (b) (1) The commission shall report its findings to the Assembly
and Senate Committees on Health every two years.
   (2) A report submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
   127653.  (a) The Department of Managed Health Care may accept
voluntary contributions to pay for the costs of operation of the
commission established under this chapter. These voluntary
contributions shall be deposited into the Health Care Affordability
Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. The moneys in
the Health Care Affordability Fund shall be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of funding the costs
of the operation of the commission. No state funds shall be used to
fund the operation of the commission established under this chapter.
   (b) The implementation of this chapter shall be contingent upon a
determination by the Department of Managed Health Care that
sufficient voluntary contributions exist or will exist in the Health
Care Affordability Fund. Upon making this determination the
Department of Managed Health Care shall notify the Legislature that
sufficient voluntary contributions exist or will exist in the Health
Care Affordability Fund.  
  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.