Amended in Assembly January 16, 2014

Amended in Assembly January 6, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 357

Introduced by Assembly Member Pan

February 14, 2013

An act to add Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, and to repeal Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of Part 6.2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, relating to child health.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 357, as amended, Pan. Children’s Health Advisory Board.

Existing law requires the state to implement and administer various child health and disease prevention programs. Existing law establishes the Healthy Families Advisory Board, a 15-member advisory panel appointed by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board. Existing law provides for the transition of children from the Healthy Families Program to Medi-Cal, including the transfer of the Healthy Families Advisory Board to the State Department of Health Care Services.

This bill would repeal the Healthy Families Advisory Board and instead rename and recast the board as the Children’s Health Advisory Board, an independent, statewide advisory body charged with developing a vision for children’s health in the state, among other tasks. The bill would also provide related legislative findings and declarations.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) The health and well-being of California’s children should
be among the state’s top priorities, and it is imperative that every
child in California has meaningful health coverage with benefits
that support healthy growth and development.

(b) Children’s health coverage should encompass more than
just treatment of diseases and illnesses, but also cover services and
care to promote healthy development and well-being.

(c) All children should receive care that meets recognized
standards of practice.

(d) For the first time in history, the current generation of children
is likely to be less healthy than their parents and live shorter lives.

(e) The incidences and types of chronic disease in children have
both increased and changed dramatically over the past four decades.
One in five children have a mental health problem, and the number
of overweight children has tripled for preschoolers and adolescents
and quadrupled for children 6 to 11 years of age, inclusive.

(f) Approximately 1.1 million children in California are
uninsured, and the quality of children’s health services and access
to these services reflect significant disparities in geographic, racial,
ethnic, and socioeconomic status.

(g) Children with special health care needs are often those who
experience the greatest challenges in accessing a variety of the
high-quality services they need.

(h) The administration and delivery of child health programs is
often ineffective, uncoordinated, and incomplete with little
accountability for quality.

(i) The modern epidemics facing children today have lifelong
consequences and present significant costs to the economy. The
failure to ensure the health of our children may jeopardize their
ability to function effectively as adults and for our state and nation
to remain strong and competitive in our global society.

SEC. 2.  

Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 124167) is
added to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and
Safety Code, to read:

 

Article 7.5.  Children’s Health Advisory Board

 

124167.  

(a) The Healthy Families Advisory Board established
by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance Code is hereby
renamed the Children’s Health Advisory Board.

(b) The Children’s Health Advisory Board shall be an
independent, statewide advisory board that shall develop a vision
for children’s health in California, make recommendations on
improving child health systems, and set goals and standards for
children’s health coverage.

(c) The membership of the advisory board shall be composed
of the following 15 members:

(1) One member who is a licensed, practicing dentist, appointed
by the Governor.

(2) One representative from a licensed nonprofit primary care
clinic, appointed by the Governor.

(3) One representative of the mental health provider community,
appointed by the Governor.

(4) One representative from the health plan community,
appointed by the Governor.

(5) One representative from the business community, appointed
by the Governor.

(6) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in the area
of family practice medicine, appointed by the Senate Committee
on Rules.

(7) One representative from a licensed hospital that is on the
disproportionate share list maintained by the State Department of
Health Care Services, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(8) One representative of the substance abuse provider
community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(9) One representative of the county public health provider
community, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(10) One representative from the education community,
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(11) Three representatives from the Medi-Cal population,
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(12) One physician and surgeon who is board certified in
pediatrics, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(13) One representative from a family with children with special
needs, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(d) The advisory board members shall have demonstrated
expertise in providing health-related services to children 18 years
of age and under, as applicable.

(e) The advisory board shall elect, from among its members, its
chair.

(f) The advisory board’s powers and duties shall include, but
not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) To advise the Director of Health Care Services on all
policies, regulations, and operations of the Medi-Cal program
begin insert related to providing health care services to children end insert .

(2) To consider all written recommendations of the advisory
board and respond in writing when the Director of Health Care
Services rejects the advice of the advisory board.

(3) To meet at least quarterly, unless deemed unnecessary by
the chair.

(g) The members of the advisory board shall be reimbursed for
all necessary travel expenses associated with the activities of the
advisory board.

(h) The State Department of Health Care Services shall provide
staff assistance to the advisory board.

(i) The Legislature does not intend the addition of this section
to result in a new board but is instead a continuation of the prior
board established by former Section 12693.90 of the Insurance
Code, and therefore no new board members shall be appointed
until a vacancy occurs.

SEC. 3.  

Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 12693.90) of
Part 6.2 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code is repealed.