BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 112
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 8, 2009 

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                    SB 112 (Oropeza) - As Amended:  June 3, 2009  

          Policy Committee:                              Business &  
          Professions  Vote:                            10-0

          Urgency:     Yes                  State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill revises the training requirements to become a  
          certified hemodialysis technician (CHT) as determined by the  
          California Department of Public Health (DPH). These revisions  
          provide conformity to recently published guidance from the  
          federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). Specifically,  
          this bill: 

          1)Requires certain education and training to be completed. 

          2)Specifies the content of training programs. 

          3)Establishes parameters for professionals currently trained in  
            this area. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Absorbable workload to DPH to continue oversight of CHT training  
          and educational requirements. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . This bill is sponsored by the California Dialysis  
            Council to conform California requirements to recent federal  
            guidance for certification of dialysis professionals and  
            facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This bill  
            carries an urgency clause in order to allow for certification  
            of professionals by April 15, 2010. 

           2)Background  . Dialysis is a substitute for the normal  
            functioning of the kidneys. It filters waste products from the  








                                                                  SB 112
                                                                  Page  2

            blood. Dialysis may be used for many years or it can be a  
            short-term treatment for patients awaiting a kidney  
            transplant. The new federal regulations of dialysis  
            professionals increase the focus on patients' rights, patient  
            safety, and patient participation in the development of care  
            plans. These regulations also reduce duplicative requirements.  
            The certification addressed by this bill allows for continued  
            payment by Medicare and Medi-Cal for specified services. 



           Analysis Prepared by  :    Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081