Bill > SB32

This bill requires the Department of Managed Health Care, the Department of Insurance, and the State Department of Health Care Services to develop and adopt standards for geographic accessibility of perinatal units (specialized hospital units for pregnancy and newborn care) by July 1, 2027. The standards will ensure timely access for patients and will be based on existing Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) managed care plan guidelines for time and distance between patients and healthcare facilities. Each department must consult with each other and stakeholders during the standards development process, and they may authorize alternative access standards or issue waivers to health plans. The departments will have specific provisions for their respective domains: the Department of Managed Health Care for health care service plans, the Department of Insurance for health insurers, and the State Department of Health Care Services for Medi-Cal enrollees. These standards will become inoperative on July 1, 2033, and will be fully repealed on January 1, 2034. The bill also indicates the Legislature's intent to address maternity ward closures, though the specific mechanism for doing so is not detailed in this legislation. Notably, the bill does not require local agencies to be reimbursed for any potential costs associated with implementing these new standards.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB32