BILL NUMBER: AB 1371	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to amend Section 127620 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1371, as introduced, V. Manuel Pérez. Rural health care reform.

   Existing law requires the Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development, in conjunction with the State Department of Health Care
Services, to act as the coordinating agency to develop a strategic
plan that would assist rural California to prepare for health care
reform, as specified.
   This bill would make technical nonsubstantive changes to the law
relating to rural health care reform.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 127620 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   127620.  (a) The Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development, in conjunction with the State Department of Health 
Care  Services, shall act as the coordinating agency to develop
a strategic plan that would assist rural California to prepare for
health care reform. The plan shall assist in the coordination and
integration of all rural health care services on the birth to death
continuum and serve as an infrastructure for rural communities to
establish priorities and develop appropriate programs.
   (b) The office shall designate representatives from provider
groups including rural hospitals, clinics, physicians, other rural
providers including psychologists, counties, beneficiaries, and other
entities directly affected by the plan. The office shall convene
meetings with the objectives of doing all of the following:
   (1) Assessing the current status of health care in rural
communities.
   (2) Assembling and reviewing data related to available programs
and resources for rural California.
   (3) Assembling and reviewing data related to other states'
strategic plans for rural communities.
   (4) Reviewing and integrating the office's rural work plan, as
appropriate.
   (5) Making assumptions about the future of health care and
developing a strategic plan based on these assumptions.
   (c) The rural health care strategic plan shall address all of the
following:
   (1) The special needs of the elderly and of ethnic populations.
   (2) Elimination of barriers in planning and coordinating health
services.
   (3) The lack of primary and specialty providers.
   (4) Access to emergency services.
   (5)  The   Assessing the  role of new
technologies, including, but not limited to, telemedicine.