14132.08.
(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Asthma Preventive Services Program Act of 2017.(b) Commencing January 1, 2019, “asthma preventive services,” which includes the provision of asthma education and environmental asthma trigger assessments, are a covered benefit, subject to utilization controls, as provided in this section.
(c) The following definitions apply for purposes of this section:
(1) “Asthma education” means providing information to a patient about basic asthma facts, the use of medications, self-management
techniques and self-monitoring skills, and actions to mitigate or control environmental exposures that exacerbate asthma symptoms, consistent with the National Institutes of Health’s 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3), any future updates of those guidelines, and other clinically appropriate guidelines.
(2) “Environmental asthma trigger assessment” means the identification of environmental asthma triggers commonly found in and around the home, including allergens and irritants. This assessment shall guide the self-management education about actions to mitigate or control environmental exposures.
(3) “Qualified asthma preventive services provider” means an individual who renders evidence-based asthma preventive services, including asthma education
and environmental asthma trigger assessments for individuals with asthma, and who meets all of the requirements described in subdivision (e).
(4) “Supervision” or “supervising” means the supervision of a qualified asthma preventive services provider providing asthma preventive services, by any of the following licensed, enrolled Medi-Cal providers who is acting within the scope of his or her respective practice:
(A) A licensed physician.
(B) A licensed nurse practitioner.
(C) A licensed physician assistant.
(d) Consistent with the limitations contained in subdivisions (g) and (h), the department,
in consultation with external stakeholders, shall develop a coverage policy consistent with the National Institutes of Health’s 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3), any future updates of the guidelines, and any other clinically appropriate guidelines.
(e) In order to be a qualified asthma preventive services provider, the supervising entity, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), shall ensure that an individual satisfies, at a minimum, all of the following requirements:
(1) Successfully complete a training program consistent with the department’s coverage policy.
(2) (A) Successfully complete, at a minimum, 16 hours of face-to-face client interaction training
focused on asthma management and prevention within a six-month period. This training shall be overseen and assessed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
(B) An individual who has completed the minimum face-to-face client contact after 2007, the year of the most recent update of the National Institutes of Health’s Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3), shall be deemed to have satisfied this face-to-face client contact requirement.
(3) Successfully complete four hours of continuing education annually.
(4) Provide asthma preventive services under the supervision of a licensed provider.
(5) Be
employed by or under contract with an entity or a supervising licensed provider that meets the requirements described in subdivision (f).
(6) Be 18 years of age or older and have a high school education or the equivalent.
(f) An entity or supervising licensed provider who employs or contracts with a qualified asthma preventive services provider shall do all of the following:
(1) Maintain documentation that the qualified asthma preventive services provider has met all of the requirements described in subdivision (e).
(2) Ensure that the qualified asthma preventive services provider is providing services consistent with subdivision (d).
(3) Maintain written documentation of services provided by the qualified asthma preventive services provider.
(4) Ensure that documentation of the provision of services is provided to the supervising entity, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), the referring licensed medical provider, and, if different, the patient’s licensed primary care provider.
(g) The department shall seek any federal approvals necessary to implement this section, including, but not limited to, approval of revisions to existing federal Medicaid authorities that the department determines are necessary to implement this section.
(h) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal
financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized, and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.
(i) This section does not alter the scope of practice for any health care professional or authorize the delivery of health care services in a setting or in a manner that is not authorized under any provision of the Health and Safety Code or the Business and Professions Code.