Posted on 05.03.10 by Executive Vice President Susan Hogeland, CAE

Last week was a busy week on many fronts.  In Sacramento, last Friday was the deadline for all bills with any fiscal consequences to pass out of policy committees.  Three bills were of particular interest to CAFP - AB 1904 (Villines), which we opposed unless amended, would have allowed an out-of-state health insurer to offer, sell, or renew a health care service plan or a health insurance policy in California without holding a California license; it would have exempted the carrier's plan or policy from California's minimum coverage requirements. CAFP wanted the bill amended to ensure all coverage mandates that currently exist in the state would apply to out of state carriers selling here. The bill was not amended, and failed passage in committee.

CAFP-supported SB 1050 (Yee), legislation that seeks to restore the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (OMBC) to osteopathic oversight only, was passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  During the budget mess last year, OMBC was combined with the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine (BNM).  Senator Yee's bill would remove the two newly-appointed naturopaths and replace them with public members; it would also ensure the BNM is solely responsible for the oversight of Naturopaths.  The full Senate will vote on the bill this week.

Unfortunately, we were less successful on AB2477 (Jones), legislation that would have prevented a requirement that Medi-Cal beneficiaries undergo semi-annual or quarterly eligibility determination.  CAFP's position is that requiring frequent renewals hinders access to care and ultimately is not a cost-saving measure.  The bill was put on the Suspense file in the Assembly Appropriations committee, however, despite our testimony.

CAFP also testified in the same committee in support of protecting family planning services and provider payment rates, and in opposition to cutting Prop 99 funding from the Early Access to Primary Care program.  We anticipate this week in Sacramento to be equally hectic.

CAFP Legislative Advocate Tom Riley and his assistant, Adam Francis, are putting the finishing touches on scheduled visits for our delegation to the AAFP's Congressional visit to Washington, DC next week.  The Sustainable Growth Rate fix will be at the top of the items to discuss with California's Congressional Delegation.

CAFP was well-represented at the AAFP's Annual Leadership Forum and National Conference of Special Constituencies in Kansas City, MO Thursday - Saturday.  President Jack Chou and President-elect Carol Havens (both as of May 14) attended ALF and we had two representatives in each of the five NCSC caucuses.  We heard extensive reports on how AAFP expects health care reform legislation to be implemented and how it is gearing up to help state chapters with implementation at the state level, as well as about the planned fix to the SGR.  I personally attended the Patient Centered Medical Home track during ALF and brought back some very valuable information to add to that gained at our PCMH planning weekend over the 24^th and 25^th of April.  Now it's time for the rubber to meet the road on PCMH, starting at our upcoming Annual Scientific Assembly in San Francisco the 15^th and 16^th of May at the Grand Hyatt Union Square.

Speaking of our ASA, there has been a full court press by the union representing hotel workers at the Grand Hyatt to get CAFP to honor the boycott that has been called against the hotel.  Please understand we signed our contract with the Grand Hyatt last June with the expectation the labor negotiations would be concluded by November of that year.  CAFP certainly supports workers' continued access to good health care benefits; to cancel our contract with the Grand Hyatt at this time, however, would cost CAFP $150,000 or more in penalties, funds our Board does not think can be sacrificed by CAFP.  We are offering full refunds to any registered attendee who asks, and have sent information about the situation to all those registered to make them aware of this offer.  We also investigated the feasibility of relocating our meeting to another hotel in San Francisco and none was available.  Please understand this is a boycott, not a strike. 

This week we welcome two new staff members:  Leah Newkirk, Director of Health Policy and Callie Langton, MA, Associate Director of Health Care Workforce Policy.  Cecilia Awayan also joined us as part-time receptionist/membership assistant last week.  We are happy to have all three with us and know you will welcome them at the first opportunity.