Federal Update
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization, which was substantially similar to the draft leaked in early May. This decision overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that first conferred a constitutional right to abortion. The Dobbs decision means that states are free to impose abortion restrictions far more restrictive than the Mississippi 15-week ban at issue in the case.
State Update
Advocates Sponsored Legislation
SB 966 (Limón) ASWs and AMFTs Billable Providers beyond PHE
In May 2020, DHCS announced through a COVID-19 News Flash that the administration will temporarily add the services of Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASWs) and Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs) at Federally Qualified Health Centers FQHCs and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) as a billable visit (pursuant to State Plan Amendment 20-0024).
Telehealth
AB 133 Budget Trailer Bill on Health
The pandemic amplified the need for telehealth flexibilities and demonstrated how telehealth decreases barriers and increases access to care for health center patients. Along with our co-sponsors and Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry, CPCA introduced AB 32 at the end of 2020 as a bill vehicle to get permanent telehealth flexibilities post December 2022. This led to a negotiated agreement where Governor Newsom signed AB 133 into effect on July 27th, 2021.
WORKFORCE
SB 1014 (Hertzberg) Supplemental Payments and Labor Management Cooperation Committees
A bill of interest to CaliforniaHealth+ Advocates was SB 1014 authored by Senator Hertzberg. The legislation and budget play were introduced earlier this year to offer health centers the opportunity to access workforce funds and address their recruitment and retention concerns. The challenge was that it required FQHCs to participate in a Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC) to be an eligible participant in the proposed Enhanced Clinically Integrated Program (ECIP) established under DHCS.
ELECTIONS
Leading up to the June Primary and November General Election, Advocates have been meeting with candidates vying for seats in both the Assembly and Senate. With each encounter, it has allowed opportunities to establish a relationship and provide an avenue to educate them on CHC priorities. With the state facing a myriad of issues going into 2023, these meetings have been critical in highlighting the important role health centers play in communities across California.
Policy Prioritization
As we have wrapped up a successful 2022 legislative session, Advocates has begun the process of prioritizing policy for the 2023 legislative and budget process. As millions of Californians are expected to enter the Medi-Cal system, we will continue to look for innovative ways to empower health centers and the communities they serve.
CPCA Taps Dennis Cuevas-Romero to Lead Government Affairs
In September, CPCA hired Dennis Cuevas-Romero as Vice President of Government Affairs. Prior to joining CPCA, Dennis worked at the California Medical Association and the ACLU Center for Advocacy and Policy. Dennis was also appointed by former Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. as the deputy director for legislation at the California Department of Consumer Affairs.