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AB-1177 Primary care clinics: written transfer agreements.(2015-2016)

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AB1177:v93#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1177
CHAPTER 704

An act to add and repeal Section 1204.2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to primary care clinics.

[ Approved by Governor  October 09, 2015. Filed with Secretary of State  October 09, 2015. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1177, Gomez. Primary care clinics: written transfer agreements.
Existing regulations require primary care clinics to maintain a written transfer agreement with one or more nearby hospitals and other facilities as appropriate to meet medical emergencies. Existing law authorizes certain clinics to request that the State Department of Public Health waive this requirement.
This bill would provide that a licensed primary care clinic is not required to enter into a written transfer agreement pursuant to those provisions as a condition of licensure, except as provided for a primary care clinic that provides services as an alternative birth center, as specified. The bill would require a primary care clinic, except as specified, to send with each patient at the time of transfer, or in the case of an emergency, as promptly as possible, copies of all medical records related to the patient’s transfer, and would require the medical records to include, among other things, current medical findings and a brief summary of the course of treatment provided prior to the patient’s transfer. The bill would require the department to repeal related regulations.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 1204.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1204.2.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, including, but not limited to, Section 75047 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, and except as provided in subdivision (c), a primary care clinic described in subdivision (a) of Section 1204 that is licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not be required to enter into a written transfer agreement with a nearby hospital as a condition of licensure.
(b) (1) A primary care clinic shall send with each patient at the time of transfer, or in the case of an emergency, as promptly as possible, copies of all medical records related to the patient’s transfer. To the extent practicable and applicable to the patient’s transfer, the medical records shall include current medical findings, diagnoses, laboratory results, medications provided prior to transfer, a brief summary of the course of treatment provided prior to transfer, ambulation status, nursing and dietary information, name and contact information for the treating physician at the clinic, and as appropriate, pertinent administrative and demographic information related to the patient, including name and date of birth.
(2) The requirements in paragraph (1) shall not apply if the primary care clinic has entered into a written transfer agreement with a local hospital that provides for the transfer of medical records.
(c) A primary care clinic licensed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1204 that provides services as an alternative birth center shall, as a condition of licensure, be required to maintain a written transfer agreement with a local hospital. The transfer agreement shall include provisions for communication and transportation to meet medical emergencies. Essential personal, health, and medical information shall either accompany the patient upon transfer or be transmitted immediately by telephone to the receiving facility. This section does not modify or supersede the requirements imposed on alternative birth centers described in Section 1204.3.
(d) The State Department of Public Health, no later than July 1, 2016, shall repeal Section 75047 of Chapter 7 of Division 5 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1204.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1204.2.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided in subdivision (c), a primary care clinic described in subdivision (a) of Section 1204 that is licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not be required to enter into a written transfer agreement with a nearby hospital as a condition of licensure.
(b) (1) A primary care clinic shall send with each patient at the time of transfer, or in the case of an emergency, as promptly as possible, copies of all medical records related to the patient’s transfer. To the extent practicable and applicable to the patient’s transfer, the medical records shall include current medical findings, diagnoses, laboratory results, medications provided prior to transfer, a brief summary of the course of treatment provided prior to transfer, ambulation status, nursing and dietary information, name and contact information for the treating physician at the clinic, and as appropriate, pertinent administrative and demographic information related to the patient, including name and date of birth.
(2) The requirements in paragraph (1) shall not apply if the primary care clinic has entered into a written transfer agreement with a local hospital that provides for the transfer of medical records.
(c) A primary care clinic licensed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1204 that provides services as an alternative birth center shall, as a condition of licensure, be required to maintain a written transfer agreement with a local hospital. The transfer agreement shall include provisions for communication and transportation to meet medical emergencies. Essential personal, health, and medical information shall either accompany the patient upon transfer or be transmitted immediately by telephone to the receiving facility. This section does not modify or supersede the requirements imposed on alternative birth centers described in Section 1204.3.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.