Amended
IN
Senate
April 01, 2019 |
Senate Bill | No. 377 |
Introduced by Senator McGuire |
February 20, 2019 |
Existing law, until January 1, 2027, requires the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services, pursuant to a specified data-sharing agreement, to provide the Medical Board of California with information regarding Medi-Cal physicians and their prescribing patterns of psychotropic medications and related services for specified children and minors placed in foster care using data provided by the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2027, requires the board to review the data on a quarterly basis in order to determine if any potential violations of law or excessive prescribing of psychotropic medications inconsistent with the standard of care exist and, if warranted, requires the board to conduct an investigation. Existing law further requires the board to
annually report the data analysis results to the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Social Services.
This bill would extend the operation of the provisions relating to the requirement that the board review and report on the data described above to January 1, 2028.
(a)The Medical Board of California on a quarterly basis shall review the data provided pursuant to Section 14028 of the Welfare and Institutions Code by the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services in order to determine if any potential violations of law or excessive prescribing of psychotropic medications inconsistent with the standard of care exist and, if warranted, shall conduct an investigation.
(b)The State Department of Health Care Services shall disseminate the treatment guidelines on an annual basis through its existing communications with Medi-Cal providers, such as the department’s internet website or provider bulletins.
(c)If, after an investigation, the Medical Board of California concludes that there was a violation of law, the board shall take disciplinary action, as appropriate, as authorized by Section 2227.
(d)If, after an investigation, the Medical Board of California concludes that there was excessive prescribing of psychotropic medications inconsistent with the standard of care, the board shall take action, as appropriate, as authorized by Section 2227.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, commencing July 1, 2017, the Medical Board of California shall report annually to the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Social Services the
results of the analysis of data described in Section 14028 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2)A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(f)On or before January 1, 2022, and in conjunction with the consultation with the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services required by subdivision (a) of Section 14028 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Medical Board of California shall conduct an internal review of its data review, investigative, and disciplinary activities undertaken pursuant to this section for the purpose of determining the efficacy of those activities and shall revise its procedures relating to those activities, if
determined to be necessary.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2028, deletes or extends that date.