Bill Text: CA AB2480 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Rural health.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-27 - Read first time. [AB2480 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2480-Introduced.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 2480	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel P�rez

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to amend Section 1179 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to rural health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2480, as introduced, V. Manuel P�rez. Rural health.
   Existing law makes various findings and declarations of the
Legislature regarding the need to improve and facilitate access to
health services in rural areas.
   This bill would add to those findings and declarations that rural
areas have a shortage of health care professionals with the cultural
competency necessary to address the health needs of diverse
communities. The bill would also make related nonsubstantive changes.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1179 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   1179.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a)  Outside of California's four major metropolitan areas, the
majority of the state is rural. In general, the rural population is
older, sicker, poorer, and more likely to be unemployed, uninsured,
or underinsured.  Rural areas also have a shortage of health care
professionals who have the cultural competency necessary to
adequately address the health needs of diverse communities.  The
lack of primary care, specialty providers  ,  and
transportation continue to be significant barriers to access to
health services in rural areas.
   (b)  There is no coordinated or comprehensive plan of action for
rural health care in California to ensure the health of 
California's rural residents   Californians residing in
rural areas  . Most of the interventions that have taken place
on behalf of rural communities have been limited in scope and purpose
and were not conceived or implemented with any comprehensive or
systematic approach in mind. Because health planning tends to focus
on approaches for population centers, the unique needs of rural
communities may not be addressed. A comprehensive plan and approach
is necessary to obtain federal support and relief, as well as to
realistically institute state and industry interventions.
   (c)  Rural communities lack the resources to make the transition
from present practices to managed care, and to make other changes
that may be necessary as the result of health care reform efforts.
With numerous health care reform proposals being debated and with the
extensive changes in the current health care delivery system, a
comprehensive and coordinated analysis must take place regarding the
impact of these proposals on rural areas.
   (d)  Rural areas lack the technical expertise and resources to
improve and coordinate their local data collection activities, which
are necessary for well-targeted health planning, program development,
and resource development. Data must be available to local
communities to enable them to plan effectively.
   (e)  The Legislature recognizes the need to take a comprehensive
approach to strengthen and coordinate rural health programs and
health care delivery systems in order to  accomplish both of the
following  :
   (1)  Facilitate access to  high quality  
high-quality  health care for California's rural communities.
   (2)  Promote coordinated planning and policy development among
state departments and between the  State   state
 and local public and private providers.