BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2699
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2699 (Bass)
As Amended May 12, 2010
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 11-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Emmerson, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Hill, |
| |Conway, Eng, Hernandez, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Hill, Ma, Nava, Niello, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |Ruskin, Smyth | |Hall, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Skinner, |
| | | |Solorio, Torlakson, |
| | | |Torrico |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Creates a state license exemption for out-of state
licensed health care practitioners (HCPs) who provide free
services on a short term, voluntary basis to uninsured persons.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Exempts from California professional licensing laws a HCP
licensed or certified in good standing in another state,
district, or territory of the United States who offers or
provides health care services for which he or she is licensed
or certified if both of the following requirements are met:
a) Prior to providing that care, he or she submits to the
board a valid copy of his or her license or certificate and
a photographic identification issued by the state in which
he or she holds licensure or certification; and,
b) The care is provided under all of the following
circumstances:
i) To uninsured or underinsured persons;
ii) On a short-term voluntary basis, not to exceed a
10-day period per sponsored event;
iii) In association with a sponsoring entity (SE) that
complies with specified requirements; and,
AB 2699
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iv) Without charge to the recipient or to a third party
on behalf of the recipient.
2)Requires a SE seeking to provide, or arrange for the provision
of, health care services under this section shall do both of
the following:
a) Register with the board by completing a registration
form that shall include all of the following elements:
i) The name of the sponsoring entity;
ii) The name of the principal individual or individuals
who are the officers or organizational officials
responsible for the operation of the sponsoring entity;
iii) The address, including street, city, ZIP Code, and
county, of the SE's principal office and principal
individuals, as specified;
iv) The telephone number for the principal office of the
sponsoring entity and each individual, as specified; and,
v) Any additional information required by the board.
b) Provide specified information to the county health
department of the county in which the health care services
will be provided, along with any additional information
that may be required by that department.
3)Requires the SE to notify the board and the county health
department in writing of any change to the information
required within 30 days of the change.
4)Requires the SE, within 15 days of the provision of health
care services, to file a report with the board and the county
health department of the county in which the health care
services were provided. This report shall contain the date,
place, type, and general description of the care provided,
along with a listing of the health care practitioners who
participated in providing that care.
5)Requires the SE to maintain a list of HCPs associated with the
provision of health care services under this bill. The SE
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shall maintain a copy of each HCP's current license or
certification and shall require each HCP to attest in writing
that his or her license or certificate is not suspended or
revoked pursuant to disciplinary proceedings in any
jurisdiction. The sponsoring entity shall maintain these
records for a period of at least five years following the
provision of health care services under this bill and shall,
upon request, furnish those records to the board or any county
health department.
6)Permits the board to revoke the registration of a SE that
fails to comply with the requirements of this bill.
7)Prohibits a contract of liability insurance issued, amended,
or renewed in California on or after January 1, 2011, from
excluding coverage of a HCP or a SE that provides, or arranges
for the provision of, health care services under this bill,
provided that the practitioner or entity complies with the
requirements.
8)Requires a HCP to render care within the scope of practice
authorized by his or her license or certificate.
9)Defines the following terms:
a) "Board" means the applicable healing arts board, under
this division or an initiative act referred to in this
division, responsible for the licensure or regulation in
California of the respective health care practitioners;
b) "HCP" means a physician and surgeon, osteopathic
physician and surgeon, chiropractor, dentist, dental
hygienist, nurse, vocational nurse, optometrist, or
physician assistant;
c) "SE" may include, but is not limited to, a nonprofit
organization or a community-based organization; and,
d) "Uninsured or underinsured person" means a person who
does not have health care coverage, including private
coverage or coverage through a program funded in whole or
in part by a governmental entity, or a person who has
health care coverage, but the coverage does not extend to
the health care services offered by the health care
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practitioner under this section.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, unknown, likely absorbable workload to
healing arts fee-supported professional boards to account for
intermittent temporary licensure of various health
professionals.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, "Thousands of
low-income children, families, and individuals in California are
uninsured or underinsured and do not receive basic health,
vision, and dental care and screenings. Lack of basic services
and preventive care may lead to more serious and costly health,
dental, and vision problems. In August 2009, the Remote Area
Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps conducted an eight-day health
event in Los Angeles County. Volunteer medical, dental and
other health care practitioners provided $2.9 million in free
services to over 14,000 individuals during the event. While the
event was extremely successful, RAM experienced a shortage of
volunteer medical, dental, and vision providers because of
restrictions in state laws which prohibit volunteer out-of-state
licensed medical personnel from providing short-term services.
As a result, thousands of residents needing services were turned
away."
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Weaver / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004405