BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1803
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1803 (Mitchell)
As Amended April 23, 2012
Majority vote
HEALTH 14-4 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Monning, Ammiano, Atkins, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Bonilla, Eng, Gordon, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Hayashi, | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, Bonnie | |Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| |Lowenthal, Mitchell, Pan, | |Mitchell, Solorio |
| |V. Manuel P�rez, Smyth, | | |
| |Williams | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Logue, Garrick, Mansoor, |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| |Silva | |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Provides that emergency services and care that are
necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition
are a covered benefit in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medi-Cal
program. Specifically, this bill :
1)Adds emergency services and care necessary for the treatment
of an emergency medical condition and medical care directly
related to the emergency condition and provided on a FFS
basis, to the list of covered benefits in the Medi-Cal
program.
2)Defines by reference "emergency services and care," "emergency
medical condition," and other related definitions which
currently apply to a hospital's obligation to screen, treat,
and stabilize any patient that presents in an emergency
department without regard to the patient's ability to pay, or
insurance status.
3)Specifies that this bill shall not be construed to change the
obligation of a Medi-Cal managed care (MCMC) plan to provide
emergency services and care.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
AB 1803
Page 2
Committee, as this bill reflects current practice, no fiscal
impact is expected.
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill would codify the
"reasonable layperson standard" for emergency medical services
for persons in the Medi-Cal FFS program. The author states that
this change will create a uniform policy and ensure that FFS
Medi-Cal patients have this important and fundamental patient
protection. According to the author, under California law, the
reasonable layperson standard for emergency medical services is
in place for health plans regulated by the Department of Managed
Health Care including MCMC plans. However, the author argues,
the standard is not in place for Medi-Cal FFS enrollees and this
gap in California law, where no reasonable layperson standard
exists, threatens patient safety and needs to be closed. This
bill seeks to cure this by adding emergency medical care and
services to the list of covered benefits and by referencing the
"reasonable person" standard from other existing provisions.
Analysis Prepared by : Marjorie Swartz / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097 FN:
0003552