BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 367
Page 1
Date of Hearing: January 10, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 367 (Smyth) - As Amended: January 4, 2012
SUBJECT : Board of Behavioral Sciences: reporting.
SUMMARY : Requires the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to
report, within 10 working days, to the State Department of
Health Care Services (DHCS) the name and license number of a
person whose license has been revoked, suspended, surrendered,
made inactive by the licensee, or place in another category that
prohibits the licensee from practicing his or her profession, as
of July 1, 2013.
EXISTING LAW requires the Dental Board of California, the
Medical Board of California, the Board of Psychology, the State
Board of Optometry, the California State Board of Pharmacy, the
Osteopathic Medical Board of California, the State Board of
Chiropractic Examiners, and the California Board of Occupational
Therapy to report, within 10 working days, to DHCS the name and
license number of a person whose license has been revoked,
suspended, surrendered, made inactive by the licensee, or place
in another category that prohibits the licensee from practicing
his or her profession.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, "AB 367 seeks to close a
reporting loophole relating to Medi-Cal provider reimbursements.
"This bill adds BBS to the list of state boards required to
report those health care providers whose licenses have been
revoked, suspended, surrendered, or made inactive, to DHCS.
DHCS prohibits these unlicensed providers from receiving
Medi-Cal reimbursements for their services. BBS oversees
Medi-Cal providers, such as marriage and family therapists, who
would, but for the enactment of this bill, remain exempt from
this important oversight.
"AB 367 is necessary for two primary reasons: first, to protect
the quality of Medi-Cal patient care; second -- keeping in mind
the state's financial situation -- the measure further ensures
AB 367
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that scarce Medi-Cal dollars are spent on licensees in good
standing.
"At the request of BBS, the bill's provisions take effect July
1, 2013 in order to give BBS sufficient time to make the IT
adjustments necessary to comply."
Background . DHCS works with health care professionals, county
governments and health plans to provide a health care safety net
for California's low-income and persons with disabilities.
DHCS finances and administers a number of individual health care
service delivery programs, including Medi-Cal, California
Children's Services program, Child Health and Disability
Prevention program and Genetically Handicapped Persons Program.
In addition, DHCS funding helps hospitals and clinics located in
underserved areas and those serving underserved populations.
This bill seeks to prevent Medi-Cal fraud by requiring BBS to
report to DHCS the name and license number of a person whose
license has been revoked.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Rebecca May / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301