A series of proposed bills would widen how much care California's mid-level health workers could give to patients in order to meet the growing demand for health care services as the health law takes hold.
Los Angeles Times: Lawmaker Wants To Expand Roles Of Medical Professionals
Citing a doctor shortage in California, a state lawmaker wants to expand the roles of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and optometrists to help treat what is expected to be a crush of newly insured Californians seeking care next year under the federal health care law. At a news conference at a community clinic here, state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) announced plans Wednesday to introduce a series of bills that would redefine professional boundaries for certain mid-level health workers, allowing them to provide more services than currently allowed under state law (Mishak, 3/13).
Sacramento Bee: CA Lawmakers Look To Expand Scope Of Some Medical Professionals
Citing a need for more medical professionals able to treat patients who will soon have health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act, state Sen. Ed Hernandez on Wednesday introduced a package of bills to expand the services that optometrists, pharmacists and nurse practitioners can offer patients. The so-called "scope of practice" bills set the stage for a massive fight with the state's physicians, who will look to protect their role as gatekeepers to medical care. In a news conference at a Sacramento health clinic, Hernandez, an optometrist, argued that because of a shortage of doctors in California, other medical professionals should be permitted to offer patients more care (Rosenhall, 3/14).
While some officials worry about who will care for patients, others worry about future holes in California's safety net coverage --
California Healthline: As Mass. Goes, So Goes California? Questioning The Safety Net's Future
"What will happen to safety-net health care facilities when their patients obtain insurance?" That's one of many questions that county officials in California are asking about how the Affordable Care Act will affect health centers that serve patients regardless of ability to pay. The possibility of losing patients because of the ACA -- and of losing funding under state proposals to expand Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program -- have led some to wonder what will become of the health centers. The future may be bleak in the eyes of some California officials, but health reform efforts in Massachusetts tell a different story (Wayt, 3/13).
Health coverage in California is also at issue for illegal immigrants and those with autism --