By Ellen, Black Voice News
Seven bills key pieces of legislation have advanced from the Assembly Appropriations Committee to the Assembly floor for a vote. This marks another step forward for legislation focused on education, health care, consumer protections and public health.
“Whether we are talking about a child who needs support learning math, a senior trying to afford prescription medication, or a consumer who deserves the right to know how long their product will be able to receive updates, these bills are about making systems work better for Californians,” said Senator Weber Pierson (D-39) who authored the various bills.
“I am proud that my legislative package has cleared another major hurdle and is now headed to the Assembly floor,” Weber Pierson continued. “Each measure addresses a specific challenge, but together they reflect our responsibility to build a California where people have the information, protections and opportunities they need to thrive.”
The various pieces of legislation include:
SB 874 – Medi-Cal: Behavioral Health Treatment Workgroup
Strengthens oversight and standardization of behavioral health treatment services in Medi-Cal, including establishing a stakeholder workgroup and directing the Department of Health Care Services to examine service delivery and program integrity.
SB 945 – School Curriculum: CPR and AEDs
Requires the Instructional Quality Commission to consider incorporating information on the importance and use of CPR and automated external defibrillators into the state’s physical education framework during its next revision.
SB 977 – Healthy Kids’ Meals
Requires a chain restaurant that sells children’s meals to offer at least one healthy meal that meets minimum nutrition standards and would require that chain restaurant to train its employees on how to comply with those healthy meal requirements.
SB 1037 – Health care coverage: rate review
Requires health insurance regulators to incorporate in existing premium rate reviews a focus on affordability of those premiums for Californians.
SB 1049 – Health Care Claims Reimbursement
Establishes a uniform right for healthcare providers to submit a corrected claim within 90 days following a plan’s latest action (such as a denial or overpayment notice).
SB 1067 – Early Math Assessments
Establishes statewide math assessment for students in kindergarten through second grade to identify students experiencing math difficulties early and connect them with appropriate support.
SB 1094 – Prescription Drugs
Promotes greater use of biosimilars, which are more affordable but equally effective biologic medications that people with certain chronic conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or cancer, take to manage their conditions.
The bills are now being considered by the full Assembly.
