AB 2132: Health care services: tuberculosis.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities and clinics, including primary care clinics, by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of these provisions is generally a crime. Existing law requires an adult patient receiving primary care services in certain health care settings to be offered a screening test for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as specified.

This bill would require a patient who is 18 years of age or older receiving health care services in a facility, clinic, center, office, or other setting, where primary care services are provided, to be offered tuberculosis screening, if tuberculosis risk factors are identified, to the extent these services are covered under the patients health care coverage, except as specified. The bill would also require the health care provider to offer the patient followup health care or refer the patient to a health care provider who can provide followup health care if a screening test is positive. The bill would prohibit a health care provider that fails to comply with these provisions from being subject to any disciplinary action related to their licensure or certification, or to any civil or criminal liability, for that failure. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through managed care or fee-for-service delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department to adopt an option made available under federal Medicaid law to pay allowable tuberculosis-related services for persons infected with tuberculosis, as specified.

This bill would require a Medi-Cal managed care plan to ensure access to care for latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis disease and coordination with local health department tuberculosis control programs for plan enrollees with active tuberculosis disease, as specified.