Advocacy

Actively developed strategies are in play for both CPA’s public psychiatry loan repayment bill, AB 565 (Maienschein) and SUD treatment continuum for youth AB 1031 (Nazarian) to avoid the graveyard. In both cases, identifying sources of funding and cost-savings that would accrue if enacted to Appropriations Committee staff are crucial.

It’s taken a lot of work to get here. A CPA sponsored bill setting up a continuum of substance use treatment for youth like AB 1031 (Nazarian) is also a consensus bill. Without opposition, with bi-partisan legislator support, it just missed being a unanimous consent item (skip testimony, go straight [...]

Parity Transparency (SB 11, Beall) was first up on the Senate Health Committee agenda April 24. Then it got “vaxxed ” by 1,000 “anti-vaxxers” who filled the Capitol to protest Dr Richard Pan’s SB 276. The bill tightens loopholes that have allowed fraudulent medical exemptions for vaccinations. Six hours later [...]

Some pharmacies have discontinued stocking long acting injectable antipsychotics. Others signal they may. Thank a new state policy resulting from a federal determination that the state has overpaid for Medi-Cal drugs generally. Pharmacies must pay back the difference going back 18 months. Going forward they must accept lower state reimbursement. [...]

Announcing. The California Medical Association accepted CPAs offer to co-sponsorAB 1268(Rodriguez) which is the first step in a multi-year campaign to reduce unnecessary utilization management in managed care, particularly with respect to prior authorization. We have a hearing up next week in the Assembly. AB 1268, is in two parts. It [...]

26 Council Members and 17 RFMs stormed the State Capitol building on Monday, March 18, educating members of the legislature and staff about CPA priorities. This was CPA’s 6th Annual Advocacy Day. Feedback from the CPA contingent and from members and staff in “the building” (as legislative advocates call it) [...]