BILL NUMBER: AB 1371INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member V. Manuel Prez FEBRUARY 18, 2011 An act to amend Section 127620 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1371, as introduced, V. Manuel Prez. Rural health care reform. Existing law requires the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, in conjunction with the State Department of Health Care Services, to act as the coordinating agency to develop a strategic plan that would assist rural California to prepare for health care reform, as specified. This bill would make technical nonsubstantive changes to the law relating to rural health care reform. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 127620 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 127620. (a) The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, in conjunction with the State Department of Health Care Services, shall act as the coordinating agency to develop a strategic plan that would assist rural California to prepare for health care reform. The plan shall assist in the coordination and integration of all rural health care services on the birth to death continuum and serve as an infrastructure for rural communities to establish priorities and develop appropriate programs. (b) The office shall designate representatives from provider groups including rural hospitals, clinics, physicians, other rural providers including psychologists, counties, beneficiaries, and other entities directly affected by the plan. The office shall convene meetings with the objectives of doing all of the following: (1) Assessing the current status of health care in rural communities. (2) Assembling and reviewing data related to available programs and resources for rural California. (3) Assembling and reviewing data related to other states' strategic plans for rural communities. (4) Reviewing and integrating the office's rural work plan, as appropriate. (5) Making assumptions about the future of health care and developing a strategic plan based on these assumptions. (c) The rural health care strategic plan shall address all of the following: (1) The special needs of the elderly and of ethnic populations. (2) Elimination of barriers in planning and coordinating health services. (3) The lack of primary and specialty providers. (4) Access to emergency services. (5)TheAssessing the role of new technologies, including, but not limited to, telemedicine.