Nation, Richman Plan To Introduce Modified Version of Individual Coverage Bill Next Year
Assembly members Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) and Keith Stuart Richman (R-Granada Hills) next year plan to introduce a modified version of a bill (AB 1670) that would have required all California residents to maintain health insurance coverage, according to Jim DeBoo, Nation's chief of staff, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
The Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday voted 5-2 against the bill, which was part of a package of six health-related measures by Nation and Richman. Eight committee members abstained from the vote.
The committee also defeated a bill (AB 1673) that would have delayed the deadline for compliance with state seismic safety standards for hospitals that invest in electronic medical record systems.
The committee voted to approve four of the bills in Nation and Richman's package (Benefield, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 4/28). One approved bill (AB 1672) would require "health facilities, health insurers and health care service plans" to implement electronic record-keeping systems by Jan. 1, 2010. Under the bill, health care providers would be eligible for increased Medi-Cal reimbursement rates upon completion of the systems' implementation.
The bill also would require the Department of Managed Health Care to develop standards for the system by Jan. 1, 2007 (Bill text, 2/22).
That measure and the three other bills in the package approved by the Assembly Health Committee now go to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 4/28).