Bill Text

Bill Information


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites | print page

SB-315 Health care access demonstration project grants.(2015-2016)

SHARE THIS: share this bill in Facebook share this bill in Twitter
SB315:v95#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  August 31, 2015
Amended  IN  Assembly  June 22, 2015
Amended  IN  Senate  May 05, 2015
Amended  IN  Senate  April 13, 2015

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 315


Introduced by Senators Monning and Hernandez
(Coauthor: Senator Pan)

February 23, 2015


An act to amend Sections 15432 and 15438.10 of the Government Code, relating to health care, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 315, as amended, Monning. Health care access demonstration project grants.
Existing law, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act, establishes a program for the California Health Facilities Authority to award grants that do not exceed $1,500,000 to one or more projects designed to demonstrate specified new or enhanced cost-effective methods of delivering quality health care services to improve access to quality health care for vulnerable populations or communities, or both, that are effective at enhancing health outcomes and improving access to quality health care and preventive services. Existing law requires a recipient of that grant to adhere to all applicable laws relating to scope of practice, licensure, staffing, and building codes. Existing law authorizes the authority, if a demonstration project receiving a grant is successful at developing such a new method of delivering high-quality and cost-effective health care services, to implement a 2nd grant program, as specified, to replicate in additional California communities the model developed by that demonstration project. Existing law requires the authority to prepare and provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor on the outcomes of the demonstration grant program that includes, among other information, the total amount of grants issued and the amount of each grant issued.
This bill would create the California Health Access Model Program Two Account within the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund for purposes of administering a 2nd competitive grant selection process, in accordance with existing grant provisions, to fund one or more projects designed to demonstrate specified new or enhanced cost-effective methods of delivering quality health care services to improve access to quality health care for vulnerable populations or communities, or both. The bill would transfer up to $6,500,000 authorize the authority to transfer moneys up to a total of $3,000,000 from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Hospital Equipment Loan Program Fund to the account for the purposes of the bill, bill if the authority decides to administer the 2nd competitive grant selection process, and would require that any moneys remaining in the account as of January 1, 2023, revert to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Hospital Equipment Loan Program Fund. By expanding the purposes for which a continuously appropriated fund may be used, this bill would make an appropriation.
The bill would also require the authority to prepare and provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor every 2 years, commencing January 1, 2017, on the 2 grant selection programs, that includes, among other information, the total amount of grants issued and the amount of each grant issued, as specified.
This bill would also make the existing requirement for adherence to all applicable laws relating to scope of practice, licensure, staffing, and building to codes applicable to a recipient of a grant provided pursuant to the 2nd grant program described above.
Existing law defines health facility, for purposes of the act, to include a multilevel facility that is an institutional arrangement where a residential facility for the elderly is operated as a part of, or in conjunction with, an intermediate care facility, a skilled nursing facility, or a general acute care hospital. Existing law defines elderly, for purposes of this provision, to mean a person 62 years of age or older.
This bill would instead define elderly to mean a person 60 years of age or older.
This bill would become operative only if AB 648 is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2016.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 15432 of the Government Code is amended to read:

15432.
 As used in this part, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates or requires another or different meaning or intent:
(a) “Act” means the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act.
(b) “Authority” means the California Health Facilities Financing Authority created by this part or any board, body, commission, department, or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to which the powers conferred upon the authority by this part shall be given by law.
(c) “Cost,” as applied to a project or portion of a project financed under this part, means and includes all or any part of the cost of construction and acquisition of all lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and interests acquired or used for a project, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which those buildings or structures may be moved, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to, during, and for a period not to exceed the later of one year or one year following completion of construction, as determined by the authority, the cost of insurance during construction, the cost of funding or financing noncapital expenses, reserves for principal and interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions, replacements, renovations and improvements, the cost of engineering, service contracts, reasonable financial and legal services, plans, specifications, studies, surveys, estimates, administrative expenses, and other expenses of funding or financing, that are necessary or incident to determining the feasibility of constructing any project, or that are incident to the construction, acquisition, or financing of any project.
(d) “Health facility” means a facility, place, or building that is licensed, accredited, or certified and organized, maintained, and operated for the diagnosis, care, prevention, and treatment of human illness, or physical, mental, or developmental disability, including convalescence and rehabilitation and including care during and after pregnancy, or for any one or more of these purposes, for one or more persons, and includes, but is not limited to, all of the following types:
(1) A general acute care hospital that is a health facility having a duly constituted governing body with overall administrative and professional responsibility and an organized medical staff that provides 24-hour inpatient care, including the following basic services: medical, nursing, surgical, anesthesia, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and dietary services.
(2) An acute psychiatric hospital that is a health facility having a duly constituted governing body with overall administrative and professional responsibility and an organized medical staff that provides 24-hour inpatient care for mentally disordered, incompetent, or other patients referred to in Division 5 (commencing with Section 5000) or Division 6 (commencing with Section 6000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, including the following basic services: medical, nursing, rehabilitative, pharmacy, and dietary services.
(3) A skilled nursing facility that is a health facility that provides the following basic services: skilled nursing care and supportive care to patients whose primary need is for availability or skilled nursing care on an extended basis.
(4) An intermediate care facility that is a health facility that provides inpatient care to ambulatory or semiambulatory patients who have recurring need for skilled nursing supervision and need supportive care, but who do not require availability or continuous skilled nursing care.
(5) A special health care facility that is a health facility having a duly constituted governing body with overall administrative and professional responsibility and an organized medical or dental staff that provides inpatient or outpatient, acute or nonacute care, including, but not limited to, medical, nursing, rehabilitation, dental, or maternity.
(6) A clinic that is operated by a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation that is licensed pursuant to Section 1204 or 1204.1 of the Health and Safety Code or a clinic exempt from licensure pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code.
(7) An adult day health center that is a facility, as defined under subdivision (b) of Section 1570.7 of the Health and Safety Code, that provides adult day health care, as defined under subdivision (a) of Section 1570.7 of the Health and Safety Code.
(8) A facility owned or operated by a local jurisdiction for the provision of county health services.
(9) A multilevel facility that is an institutional arrangement where a residential facility for the elderly is operated as a part of, or in conjunction with, an intermediate care facility, a skilled nursing facility, or a general acute care hospital. “Elderly,” for the purposes of this paragraph, means a person 60 years of age or older.
(10) A child day care facility operated in conjunction with a health facility. A child day care facility is a facility, as defined in Section 1596.750 of the Health and Safety Code. For purposes of this paragraph, “child” means a minor from birth to 18 years of age.
(11) An intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative that is a health facility, as defined under subdivision (e) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.
(12) An intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled-nursing that is a health facility, as defined under subdivision (h) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.
(13) A community care facility that is a facility, as defined under subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, that provides care, habilitation, rehabilitation, or treatment services to developmentally disabled or mentally impaired persons.
(14) A nonprofit community care facility, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, other than a facility that, as defined in that subdivision, is a residential facility for the elderly, a foster family agency, a foster family home, a full service adoption agency, or a noncustodial adoption agency.
(15) A nonprofit accredited community work activity program, as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 4851 and Section 4856 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(16) A community mental health center, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 5667 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(17) A nonprofit speech and hearing center, as defined in Section 1201.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(18) A blood bank, as defined in Section 1600.2 of the Health and Safety Code, licensed pursuant to Section 1602.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(19) A residential facility for persons with developmental disabilities, as defined in Sections 4688.5 and 4688.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which includes, but is not limited to, a community care facility licensed pursuant to Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code and a family teaching home as defined in Section 4689.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(20) A nonpublic school that provides educational services in conjunction with a health facility, as defined in paragraphs (1) to (19), inclusive, that otherwise qualifies for financing pursuant to this part, if the nonpublic school is certified pursuant to Sections 56366 and 56366.1 of the Education Code as meeting standards relating to the required special education and specified related services and facilities for individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities.
“Health facility” includes a clinic that is described in subdivision (l) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code.
“Health facility” includes information systems equipment and the following facilities, if the equipment and facility is operated in conjunction with or to support the services provided in one or more of the facilities specified in paragraphs (1) to (20), inclusive, of this subdivision: a laboratory, laundry, a nurses or interns residence, housing for staff or employees and their families or patients or relatives of patients, a physicians’ facility, an administration building, a research facility, a maintenance, storage, or utility facility, an information systems facility, all structures or facilities related to any of the foregoing facilities or required or useful for the operation of a health facility and the necessary and usual attendant and related facilities and equipment, and parking and supportive service facilities or structures required or useful for the orderly conduct of the health facility.
“Health facility” does not include any institution, place, or building used or to be used primarily for sectarian instruction or study or as a place for devotional activities or religious worship.
(e) “Participating health institution” means a city, city and county, or county, a district hospital, or a private nonprofit corporation or association, or a limited liability company whose sole member is a nonprofit corporation or association authorized by the laws of this state to provide or operate a health facility or a nonprofit corporation that controls or manages, is controlled or managed by, is under common control or management with, or is affiliated with any of the foregoing, and that, pursuant to this part, undertakes the financing or refinancing of the construction or acquisition of a project or of working capital as provided in this part. “Participating health institution” also includes, for purposes of the California Health Facilities Revenue Bonds (UCSF-Stanford Health Care) 1998 Series A, the Regents of the University of California.
(f) “Project” means construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing, or equipping, or funding, financing, or refinancing of a health facility or acquisition of a health facility to be financed or refinanced with funds provided in whole or in part pursuant to this part. “Project” may include reimbursement for the costs of construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing, or equipping, or funding, financing, or refinancing of a health facility or acquisition of a health facility. “Project” may include any combination of one or more of the foregoing undertaken jointly by any participating health institution with one or more other participating health institutions.
(g) “Revenue bond” or “bond” means a bond, warrant, note, lease, or installment sale obligation that is evidenced by a certificate of participation or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the authority.
(h) “Working capital” means moneys to be used by, or on behalf of, a participating health institution to pay or prepay maintenance or operation expenses or any other costs that would be treated as an expense item, under generally accepted accounting principles, in connection with the ownership or operation of a health facility, including, but not limited to, reserves for maintenance or operation expenses, interest for not to exceed one year on any loan for working capital made pursuant to this part, and reserves for debt service with respect to, and any costs necessary or incidental to, that financing.

SEC. 2.

 Section 15438.10 of the Government Code is amended to read:

15438.10.
 (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Many Californians face serious obstacles in obtaining needed health care services, including, but not limited to, medical, mental health, dental, and preventive services. The obstacles faced by vulnerable populations and communities include the existence of complex medical, physical, or social conditions, disabilities, economic disadvantage, and living in remote or underserved areas that make it difficult to access services.
(2) With the recent passage of national health care reform, there is an increased demand for innovative ways to deliver quality health care, including preventive services, to individuals in a cost-effective manner.
(3) There is a need to develop new methods of delivering health services utilizing innovative models that can be demonstrated to be effective and then replicated throughout California and that bring community-based health care preventive services to individuals where they live or receive education, social, or general health services.
(4) For more than 30 years, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority has provided financial assistance through tax-exempt bonds, low-interest loans, and grants to health facilities in California, assisting in the expansion of the availability of health services and health care facilities throughout the state.
(b) (1) Following the completion of a competitive selection process, the authority may award one or more grants that, in the aggregate, do not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) to one or more projects designed to demonstrate specified new or enhanced cost-effective methods of delivering quality health care services to improve access to quality health care for vulnerable populations or communities, or both, that are effective at enhancing health outcomes and improving access to quality health care and preventive services. These health care services may include, but are not limited to, medical, mental health, or dental services for the diagnosis, care, prevention, and treatment of human illness, or individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities. More than one demonstration project may receive a grant pursuant to this section. It is the intent of the Legislature for a demonstration project that receives a grant to allow patients to receive screenings, diagnosis, or treatment in community settings, including, but not limited to, school-based health centers, adult day care centers, and residential care facilities for the elderly, or for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities.
(2) A grant awarded pursuant to this subdivision may be allocated in increments to a demonstration project over multiple years to ensure the demonstration project’s ability to complete its work, as determined by the authority. Prior to the initial allocation of funds pursuant to this subdivision, the administrators of the demonstration project shall provide evidence that the demonstration project has or will have additional funds sufficient to ensure completion of the demonstration project. If the authority allocates a grant in increments, each subsequent year’s allocation shall be provided to the demonstration project only upon submission of research that shows that the project is progressing toward the identification of a high-quality and cost-effective delivery model that improves health outcomes and access to quality health care and preventive services for vulnerable populations or communities, and can be replicated throughout the state in community settings.
(3) Except for a health facility that qualifies as a “small and rural hospital” pursuant to Section 124840 of the Health and Safety Code, a health facility that has received tax-exempt bond financing from the authority shall not be eligible to receive funds awarded for a demonstration project. Such a health facility may participate as an uncompensated partner or member of a collaborative effort that is awarded a demonstration project grant. A health facility that participates in a demonstration project that receives funds pursuant to this section may not claim the funding provided by the authority toward meeting its community benefit and charity care obligations.
(4) Funds provided to a demonstration project pursuant to this subdivision may be used to supplement, but not to supplant, existing financial and resource commitments of the grantee or grantees or any other member of a collaborative effort that has been awarded a demonstration project grant.
(c) (1) If a demonstration project that receives a grant pursuant to subdivision (b) is successful at developing a new method of delivering high-quality and cost-effective health care services in community settings that result in increased access to quality health care and preventive services or improved health care outcomes for vulnerable populations or communities, or both, then beginning as early as the second year after the initial allocation of moneys provided pursuant to subdivision (b), the authority may implement a second grant program that awards not more than five million dollars ($5,000,000), in the aggregate, to eligible recipients as defined by the authority, to replicate in additional California communities the model developed by a demonstration project that received a grant pursuant to subdivision (b). Prior to the implementation of this second grant program, the authority shall prepare and provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor on the outcomes of the demonstration project. The report shall be made in accordance with Section 9795.
(2) If the authority implements the second grant program, the authority shall also report annually, beginning with the first year of implementation of the second grant program, to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the program, including, but not limited to, the total amount of grants issued pursuant to this subdivision, the amount of each grant issued, and a description of each project awarded funding for replication of the model.
(3) Grants under this subdivision may be utilized for eligible costs, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 15432, including equipment, information technology, and working capital, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 15432.
(4) The authority may adopt regulations relating to the grant program authorized pursuant to this subdivision, including regulations that define eligible recipients, eligible costs, and minimum and maximum grant amounts.
(d) (1) The authority shall prepare and provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor every two years, commencing on January 1, 2017, on the grants awarded pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (g) that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) The total amount of grants issued.
(B) The amount of each grant issued.
(C) A description of other sources of funding for each project.
(D) A description of each project awarded funding.
(E) If available, a description of project outcomes that demonstrate cost-effective delivery of health care services in community settings, that result in improved access to quality health care or improved health care outcomes.
(2) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(e) There is hereby created the California Health Access Model Program Account in the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund. All moneys in the account are hereby continuously appropriated to the authority for carrying out the purposes of this section. An amount of up to six million five hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) shall be transferred from funds in the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund that are not impressed with a trust for other purposes into the California Health Access Model Program Account for the purpose of issuing grants pursuant to this section. Any moneys remaining in the California Health Access Model Program Account on January 1, 2020, shall revert as of that date to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund.
(f) Any recipient of a grant provided pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall adhere to all applicable laws relating to scope of practice, licensure, staffing, and building codes.
(g) There is hereby created the California Health Access Model Program Two Account within the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund for purposes of administering a second competitive grant selection process, in accordance with subdivisions (b) and (c), to fund one or more projects designed to demonstrate specified new or enhanced cost-effective methods of delivery quality health care services to improve access to quality health care for vulnerable populations or communities, or both. An amount of up to six million five hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) shall be transferred The authority may transfer moneys up to a total of three million dollars ($3,000,000) from funds in the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Hospital Equipment Loan Program Fund that are not impressed with a trust for other purposes into the California Health Access Model Program Two Account for the purpose of administering a second competitive grant selection process pursuant to this subdivision. subdivision if the authority decides to administer the second competitive grant selection process. Any moneys remaining in the California Health Access Model Program Two Account on January 1, 2023, shall revert as of that date to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Hospital Equipment Loan Program Fund.

SEC. 3.

 This act shall become operative only if Assembly Bill 648 is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2016.