AB 1567, as introduced, Chávez. Office of Rural Health.
Existing law requires the Secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency, now known as the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, to establish the Office of Rural Health to promote coordinated planning for the delivery of health services in rural California.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 1179.1 of the Health and Safety Code is
2amended to read:
(a) The Secretary ofbegin delete the Health and Welfare Agencyend delete
4begin insert California Health and Human Servicesend insert shall establish an Office
5of Rural Health, or an alternative organizational structure, in one
6of the departments of thebegin insert Californiaend insert Health andbegin delete Welfareend deletebegin insert Human
7Servicesend insert Agency to promote a strong working relationship
between
8state government and local and federal agencies, universities,
9private and public interest groups, rural consumers, health care
P2 1providers, foundations, and other offices of rural health, as well
2as to develop health initiatives and maximize the use of existing
3resources without duplicating existing effort. The office or
4alternative organizational structure shall serve as a key information
5and referral source to promote coordinated planning for the delivery
6of health services in rural California.
7(b) To the extent funds are appropriated by the Legislature,
8these efforts may include:
9(1) Educating the public and recommending appropriate public
10policies regarding the viability of rural health care in California.
11(2) Monitoring and working with state and federal agencies to
12assess the impact of proposed rules
and regulations on rural areas.
13(3) Promoting community involvement and community support
14in maintaining, rebuilding, and diversifying local health services
15in rural areas.
16(4) Encouraging and evaluating the use of advanced
17communications technology to provide access to health promotion
18and disease prevention information, specialty expertise, clinical
19consultation, and continuing education for health professionals.
20(5) Encouraging the development of regional health care and
21public health networks and collaborative efforts, including, but
22not limited to, emergency transportation networks.
23(6) Working with state and local agencies, universities, and
24private and public interest groups to promote research on rural
25health issues.
26(7) Soliciting the assistance of other offices or programs of
27rural health in California to carry out the duties of this part.
28(8) Disseminating information and providing technical
29assistance to communities, health care providers, and consumers
30of health care services.
31(9) Promoting strategies to improve health care professional
32recruitment and retention in rural areas.
33(10) Encouraging innovative responses by public and private
34entities to address rural health issues.
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