Advocacy

Chronic state leadership voids are in Governor Newsom’s sights. You are witnessing the medicalization of state health policy with a number of firsts: creating the position of California Surgeon General, and installing a pediatrician; appointing another pediatrician as secretary of the state’s health agency; yet another physician as a deputy [...]

One of the bills that became law is SB 544 (Umberg) that illustrates a trend in licensing of professionals. SB 544 would prohibit the state bar from seeking information on mental health issues in deciding whether an applicant to the bar is of “good moral character.” CPA negotiated a related provision earlier [...]

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. [...]