BILL ANALYSIS
AB 525
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 525 (Chu)
As Amended January 23, 2006
Majority vote
HEALTH 11-1 APPROPRIATIONS 13-0
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|Ayes:|Chan, Berg, Cohn, |Ayes:|Chu, Bass, Berg, Calderon, |
| |Dymally, Frommer, De La | |De La Torre, Karnette, |
| |Torre, Jones, Montanez, | |Klehs, Leno, Nation, |
| |Negrete McLeod, Richman, | |Oropeza, Jones, Saldana, |
| |Ridley-Thomas | |Yee |
| | | | |
|-----+-------------------------+-----+----------------------------|
|Nays:|Strickland | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Prohibits the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board
(MRMIB) from imposing, as a condition of eligibility for the
Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program, a written
verification of pregnancy requirement.
EXISTING LAW provides for the AIM program, administered by
MRMIB, under which comprehensive health care services are
provided to pregnant women and their infants who have family
income between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, one-time minor and absorbable costs to MRMIB to
revise eligibility forms and AIM regulations. Indeterminate
increased General Fund (GF) costs to the AIM program,
potentially in hundreds of thousands to over $1 million (GF).
For example, if AIM payments to health plans increased 5%, GF
costs would increase by $1.2 million.
COMMENTS : According to the sponsor, Maternal Child Health
Access, this bill will improve the AIM program by eliminating
the requirement that women produce a written certification of
pregnancy from a medical provider before being enrolled in AIM.
The AIM program is administered by MRMIB and provides low-cost,
comprehensive health insurance coverage to uninsured pregnant
women with family incomes between 200% and 300% of the FPL.
AB 525
Page 2
This coverage extends from pregnancy to 60 days post partum and
covers infants up to two years of age. Enrollees pay 1.5% of
their adjusted annual household income after income deductions
and there are no co-payments or premiums.
To be eligible for the AIM program, Title 10 Section
2699.200(b)(1) of the California Code of Regulations requires an
applicant to be, among other things, "...certified as pregnant
by a staff person authorized by the Planned Parenthood
Organization or a licensed or certified healthcare professional,
including, but not limited to a medical doctor, doctor of
osteopathy, registered nurse physician's assistant, nurse
midwife, vocational nurse, or medical assistant, and have a
reasonable good faith belief that the pregnancy is not beyond
the 30th week of gestation as of the application date."
Analysis Prepared by : Melanie Moreno / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097 FN: 0013685