BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 315 (Monning) - Health care access demonstration project grants. ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: May 5, 2015 |Policy Vote: HEALTH 8 - 1 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: May 18, 2015 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 315 would authorize the California Health Facilities Financing Authority to transfer up to $6.5 million to a new account for the purpose of funding grants to improve health care delivery systems or improve access to care by vulnerable populations. Fiscal Impact: One-time transfer of $6.5 million to fund new grants (California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund). Background: Under current law, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority, housed within the State Treasurer's Office, is authorized to provide loans to health care providers. The Authority is able to issue tax-exempt bonds to fund those loans, allowing it to make loans at below market interest rates. The Authority makes loans for facility construction and equipment SB 315 (Monning) Page 1 of ? purchases. In 2014, the Authority issued $894,100,000 in bonds to fund loans. Previously, the Authority managed a grant program that was funded using administrative fees paid by borrowers (referred to as the California Health Access Model Program). Pursuant to that program, the Authority made a $1.4 million grant the San Francisco Health Plan for a community-based care management pilot project. Proposed Law: SB 315 would authorize the California Health Facilities Financing Authority to transfer up to $6.5 million to a new account for the purpose of funding grants to improve health care delivery systems or improve access to care by vulnerable populations. Specific provisions of the bill would: Create a new account within the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund to fund a new grant program; Specify that the monies in the new fund are to be used to fund one or more projects to provide cost-effective methods of delivering health care services or improve access to health care for vulnerable populations or communities; Authorize the Authority to transfer up to $6.5 million from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Hospital Equipment Loan Program Fund for the purposes of the bill; Revert any unspent portion of the transferred funds on January 1, 2023. -- END --