The 340B Drug Discount Program 

Governor Newsom released his 2019-20 Revised Budget earlier last week, which continues to direct the Department of Health Care Services to transition pharmacy services in Medi-Cal managed care to fee-for-service. While we support Governor Newsom's healthcare agenda and appreciate his strong desire to lower the cost of prescription drugs, his current proposal will effectively eliminate savings from the 340B Drug Discount Program. This will be devastating for California's community health centers and the nearly 7 million patients they serve.

CaliforniaHealth+ Advocates is committed to ensuring the resources health centers need, which today come from 340B savings, remain. To learn more about our efforts on 340B and for additional resources, click the button below.

340B Resources

CaliforniaHealth+ Advocates 2019 Sponsored Bills

Senate Bill 66 (Atkins and McGuire) Same Day Visits   Bill Text
In partnership with the Steinberg Institute, Advocates has moved forward with reintroducing Same Day Visits legislation. With a raging opioid epidemic, a greater appreciation for the intersection of primary care and mental health services, and the need to increase access to behavioral health preventive and diagnostic services, Advocates is excited to be working with the Steinburg Institute and the California Association of Public Hospitals on this important effort.
 

Assembly Bill 899 (Wood) – Streamlining Expansion of Primary Care Facilities    Bill Text
Assembly Bill 899 will maximize the ability of community health centers to expand access to health care for all Californians, by giving them the option to utilize an existing outpatient clinic or previously licensed primary care clinic to meet the growing demand for services. In addition, this bill will also ensure that that the Community Clinics Advisory Committee is empaneled by 2020 to provide counsel and assistance to the regulators about the function and operation of community health centers.
 

Assembly Bill 1494 (Aguiar-Curry)  – Declared Emergencies    Bill Text
Assembly Bill 1494 would ensure that communities continue to receive timely access to care when disaster strikes. AB 1494 seeks to clarify state law to ensure that health centers can provide care to patients; through telephonic visits, in a shelter or in a patients home utilizing telehealth technology during a declared state of emergency.


For more information on the State Budget or sponsored bills please contact Andie Martinez Patterson, Vice President of Government Affairs, at Andie@healthplusadvocates.org.