BILL NUMBER: HR 37	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Portantino

                        AUGUST 25, 2010

   Relative to access to religious nonmedical care as part of
California's implementation of national health care reform
legislation.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
             HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST



   WHEREAS, The express goal of the recently enacted federal health
care reform legislation is to include all Americans within a
comprehensive health insurance program; and
   WHEREAS, Many Californians will be required by the federal
government to purchase medical health insurance that does not cover
the type of care they have found to be most effective; and
   WHEREAS, Californians are a diverse population and should have
options when it comes to their choice of health care; and
   WHEREAS, All Californians should have access to the type of health
care they have found to be most effective, including those forms of
religious nonmedical care provided for in subdivision (b) of Section
22850 of the Government Code; and
   WHEREAS, Religious nonmedical care has a long history of inclusion
in both federal and state health care law, including Medicare and
Medicaid (Medi-Cal), TRICARE, four plans under the federal Employees
Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), and California's own PERSCare
program; and
   WHEREAS, Provision for religious nonmedical care options in
California law benefits many Californians, not just those who are
currently relying on this form of health care; and
   WHEREAS, It can be shown that including religious nonmedical care
as part of any insurance product would not add any cost; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
Assembly acknowledges the importance of including religious
nonmedical care benefits as part of those insurance plans offered
through the American Health Benefit Exchange to be established by the
state in order to implement the federal health care reform
legislation, and encourages the United States Health and Human
Services Agency to include those benefits as part of the essential
benefits package pursuant to Section 1302 of the federal Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148); and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall transmit
copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.