BILL NUMBER: AB 2589 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 5, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gomez
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
An act to add Sections 123362 and 123363 to the Health and Safety
Code, relating to lactation services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2589, as amended, Gomez. Lactation services and equipment.
Existing law provides for the California Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program)
administered by the State Department of Public Health and counties,
under which nutrition and other assistance is provided to eligible
low-income postpartum and lactating women, infants, and children
under 5 years of age.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under
which health care services, including breastfeeding services, are
provided to qualified low-income persons. Existing law requires the
State Department of Health Care Services to streamline and simplify
existing Medi-Cal program procedures in order to improve access to
lactation supports and breast pumps among Medi-Cal recipients.
This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to
coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services to
develop processes, procedures, and an electronic interface for
eligibility-related information sharing to streamline enrollment into
the WIC Program, as part of the application process for Medi-Cal and
health plans offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange.
The bill would require the State Department of Public Health to
coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services, through
a stakeholder engagement process, as specified, to
develop measures and outcomes for breastfeeding, as
specified, and specified. No later than January 1,
2018, and every 5 years thereafter, the bill would require the
State Department of Public Health to coordinate with the State
Department of Health Care Services, through a stakeholder engagement
process, as specified, to develop and update minimum
required breast pump and accessory equipment standards for
the provision of appropriate and effective breast pumps
and accessories in all health plans.
accessories.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation relating to durable medical equipment rates for breast
pumps and accessory kits, including a rate review and adjustment
process, in order to ensure the continued provision of, and access
to, quality breast pumps, particularly for health plans serving
low-income mothers and their infants.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
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 relating to durable medical equipment rates for
breast pumps and accessory kits, including a rate review and
adjustment process, in order to ensure the continued provision of,
and access to, quality breast pumps, particularly for health plans
serving low-income mothers and their infants.
SEC. 2. SECTION 1. Section 123362 is
added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
123362. The State Department of Public Health shall coordinate
with the State Department of Health Care Services to develop
processes, procedures, and an electronic interface for
eligibility-related information sharing to streamline enrollment into
the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children, known as the WIC Program, as part of the
application process for Medi-Cal and health plans offered through the
California Health Benefit Exchange established under Title 22
(commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code.
SEC. 3. Section 123363 is added to the Health
and Safety Code, to read:
123363. The State Department of Public Health shall coordinate
with the State Department of Health Care Services, through a
stakeholder engagement process, to do both of the following:
(a) Develop measures and outcomes for breastfeeding, including, at
a minimum, both of the following:
(1) Initiation, duration and exclusivity, and ethnic disparities.
(2) Nutrition, relating to chronic disease impacting women,
infants, and children, including, but not limited to, obesity, forms
of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.
(b) Develop minimum required breast pump and accessory equipment
standards for the provision of breast pumps and accessories in all
health plans.
SEC. 2. Section 123363 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
123363. (a) The State Department of Public Health shall
coordinate with the State Department of Health Care Services, through
a stakeholder engagement process that shall include, but not be
limited to, representatives from health care providers, primary care
clinics, and health plans, state and local staff from the California
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC Program) and the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health
program, and representatives from organizations representing women,
infants, and children, to do both of the following:
(1) With respect to prenatal care, develop measures and outcomes
for breastfeeding that shall include, at a minimum, women's intention
to breastfeed, including ethnic diversity.
(2) After birth and following discharge from the hospital or other
birthing location, develop measures and outcomes for breastfeeding
that shall include, at a minimum, initiation, duration, exclusivity,
and ethnic disparities.
(b) No later than January 1, 2018, and every five years
thereafter, the State Department of Public Health shall coordinate
with the State Department of Health Care Services, through a
stakeholder engagement process that shall include, but not be limited
to, representatives from health care providers, health plans, and
primary care clinics, lactation consultants and specialists, state
and local staff from the WIC Program, and representatives of
manufacturers and distributors of breast pumps and accessories, to
develop and update minimum breast pump and accessory equipment
standards for the provision of appropriate and effective breast pumps
and accessories, taking into account the current reimbursement rates
for durable medical equipment related to breastfeeding, including
any potential need to modify the reimbursement rates.