Bill > SB297

This bill, known as the Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025, aims to address valley fever, a significant public health concern in California, particularly in arid regions. The bill requires the State Department of Public Health to annually identify high-incidence regions for valley fever and publish the first list by March 1, 2027. Starting January 1, 2028, adult patients in these high-risk areas must be offered a valley fever screening test during primary care visits, with provisions for follow-up care if the test is positive. The bill mandates that health care service plans and health insurance policies cover these screening tests without cost-sharing, beginning June 1, 2027. Local health departments in high-incidence regions will be required to conduct outreach, raise awareness about valley fever risks, and report confirmed cases annually. The Medi-Cal program will also be required to cover valley fever screening tests in high-incidence regions, subject to federal approvals. The State Department of Public Health must evaluate the effectiveness of the screening and prevention program every two years and report findings to the Legislature. Importantly, healthcare providers who fail to comply with the screening requirements will not face disciplinary actions or liability, emphasizing the bill's focus on implementation and public health awareness rather than punitive measures.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB297