legislative update
Catrina Reyes, Esq.
Vice President of Advocacy and Policy
The Journey of a Sponsored Bill All legislation starts off as an idea. Factors that CAFP staff, the Legislative Affairs Committee, and the Board of Directors take into account when considering an idea include, amongst others, whether the bill idea advances CAFP’s strategic plan, has a primary care or family physician focus, solves a current problem, is feasible, avoids unintended consequences, and has potential allies and minimal adversaries. Senate Bill 402, CAFP’s sponsored bill this year, met all of these factors. SB 402 would have established multi-payer payment reform pilots in areas hardest hit by COVID-19 with the goal of transitioning primary care physician practices from fee-for-service payments to alternative payment models. After CAFP decides on a bill idea, CAFP staff draft bill language and a fact sheet to “shop” to members of the Legislature to persuade them to author the bill. If the author is a Senator, the bill is introduced at the Senate Desk; if an Assemblymember, at the Assembly Desk, where it is assigned a number and read for the first time. Senator Melissa Hurtado was the author for CAFP’s sponsored bill this year thanks to requests from her constituents and CAFP members, Jasmeet Bains, MD, and Raul Ayala, MD. After the bill is read for the first time, it goes to the Senate or Assembly Rules Committee, where it is assigned to a policy committee. CAFP sponsored bills are typically assigned to the Health Committee. Bills are not heard 12
California Family Physician Fall 2021
in policy committee until 30 days after they have been introduced and in print. Prior to a sponsored bill being heard in Committee, CAFP meets with other organizations that could be potential allies as well as members of the Health Committee to garner their support. SB 402 had broad-based support from organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (California), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District IX, American Diabetes Association, California Chronic Care Coalition, California Medical Association, California Pan - Ethnic Health Network, California State Council of Service Employees International Union (SEIU California), CaliforniaHealth+ Advocates, Center for Collaborative Solutions, Children's Defense FundCalifornia, Community Health Councils, Latino Coalition for A Healthy California, Primary Care Development Corporation, and Purchaser Business Group on Health.
During the Committee hearing, the bill author presents the bill and time is allocated for witnesses in support of and in opposition to the bill. CAFP member, Sumana Reddy, MD, and CAFP Vice President of Advocacy and Policy, Catrina Reyes, testified in support of SB 402. There were no witnesses in opposition. SB 402 passed out of the Senate Health Committee with a unanimous vote. If the bill has a fiscal impact or a state cost, it will be heard in either the Senate or Assembly Appropriations Committee. The Senate Appropriations Committee placed SB 402 on the Suspense File, because it was assumed to cost the State $3 million to implement. The Appropriations Committee sends any bill with an annual cost of more than $150,000 to the Suspense File. Suspense File bills are then considered at one hearing after the state budget has been prepared and the Committee has a better sense of available revenue. No testimony is
