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<ns0:Id>20250SB__029796AMD</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-10</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2025-07-07</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>297</ns0:MeasureNum>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Hurtado</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Hurtado</ns0:Name>
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</ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Title>An act to amend Section 122475 of, to add Sections 1316.8 and 1367.57 to, to add the heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 122475) to Part 7.7 of Division 105 of, and to add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 122480) to Part 7.7 of Division 105 of, the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 10123.25 to the Insurance Code, relating to public health. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>public health</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025. </ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health to, among other things, implement and administer various programs relating to public health. Existing law, the Valley Fever Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act, states the intent of the Legislature to raise awareness of the symptoms, tests, and treatments for valley fever among the general public, primary health care providers, and health care providers who care for persons at higher risk for getting valley fever.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill, the Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025, would require the
department, in consultation with subject matter experts, to the extent feasible and using available data and resources, including public health surveillance data, to annually analyze and identify regions with elevated rates of valley fever. The bill would require the department to publish its first list of high-incidence regions for valley fever on or before March 1, 2027. The bill would require the department to provide local health departments in high-incidence regions with detailed infection data and standardized screening protocols that align with the current national clinical practice recommendations for valley fever. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, and every 2 years thereafter, to evaluate the effectiveness of the valley fever screening and prevention program and report its findings to the Legislature.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require local health departments in high-incidence areas to conduct outreach to health care providers and the general public to raise awareness of valley fever risks, symptoms, and prevention strategies. The bill would require local health departments to annually report the number of confirmed cases of valley fever to the department, as specified. By imposing duties on local health departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. </html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities and clinics by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of these provisions is a crime.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill, commencing January 1, 2028, would require an adult patient receiving primary care services in a facility, clinic, unlicensed clinic, center, office, or other setting, and in a high-incidence region for valley fever,
to be screened for valley fever, to the extent the services are covered under the patient’s health insurance, unless specified circumstances exist. If the results of a screening suggest that testing should be considered, the bill would require the health care provider to offer the patient diagnostic testing. If the test result is positive, the health care provider shall offer care, as specified, for valley fever management. The bill would prohibit a health care provider who, based on their professional judgment, determines it is not appropriate to screen, offer
to screen, or consider or offer a patient testing for valley fever from being subject to any disciplinary action related to their licensure, certification, or privileges in relation to that determination. The bill would also prohibit a violation of these provisions from being the basis of civil or criminal liability.</html:p>
<html:p>By expanding the scope of a crime applicable to the health care settings described above, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. </html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would prohibit a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy, except as specified, from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or other requirement on a valley fever screening or test, as specified, in high-incidence regions for valley fever. Because a violation of this requirement relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. </html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
<html:p>With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.</html:p>
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<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_F8D17856-2741-4254-9781-C65178966057">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>This act is known, and may be cited, as the Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025.</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Valley fever is a significant public health concern in California, disproportionately impacting residents of arid regions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Early detection and intervention are essential to reduce the medical and economic burdens associated with severe cases of valley fever.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Valley fever screening and prevention is necessary to protect the health and well-being of Californians residing in high-risk areas.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Under existing Medi-Cal coverage, skin tests for valley fever are available to Medi-Cal members as part of an office visit for any Medi-Cal member experiencing symptoms. In addition, Medi-Cal covers diagnostic blood tests.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1316.8 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>1316.8.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Commencing January 1, 2028, an adult patient who receives primary care services in a facility, clinic, unlicensed clinic, center, office, or other setting where primary care services are provided, and in a high-incidence region for valley fever, as identified by the State Department of Public Health pursuant to Section 122480, shall be screened for valley fever, to the extent these services are covered under the patient’s health insurance, based on the
current national clinical practice recommendations, unless the health care provider reasonably believes that one of the following conditions applies:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The patient is being treated for a life-threatening emergency.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The patient has previously been screened or tested for valley fever.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The patient lacks capacity to consent to a valley fever screening test.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The patient is being treated in the emergency department of a general acute care hospital, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If the result of a valley fever screening suggests that testing should be considered, a health care provider shall offer diagnostic testing, to the extent these services are covered under the patient’s health insurance. If the diagnostic test result is
positive, the health care provider shall offer care based on current national clinical practice recommendations for valley fever management or offer to refer the patient to a health care provider who can provide followup health care.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The offering of a valley fever screening test under this section shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall not affect the scope of practice of any health care provider or diminish any authority or legal or professional obligation of any health care provider to offer a screen or test for valley
fever,
or to provide services or care for the patient of a valley fever screening or test.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A health care provider who, based upon their professional judgment, determines that it is not appropriate to screen, or offer to screen, a patient for valley fever, or to consider or offer a patient diagnostic testing or care for valley fever, shall not be subject to any disciplinary actions related to their
licensure, certification, or privileges in relation to that determination. A violation of this section shall not be the basis of any civil or criminal liability.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Followup health care” includes providing medical management for valley fever according to current national clinical practice recommendations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Valley fever screening” means assessing a patient’s clinical presentation to determine if diagnostic testing for coccidioidomycosis should be considered in accordance with current national clinical practice recommendations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Valley fever test” includes any laboratory test or tests that detect the presence of Coccidioides infection and provides confirmation of whether the patient has
an active infection.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1367.57 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_A67899A9-06A2-4D0D-9AA2-B3008C341B0D">
<ns0:Num>1367.57.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A health care service plan contract shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on a valley fever screening or test provided pursuant to Section 1316.8 in high-incidence regions for valley fever.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding subdivision (a),
if a health care service plan contract is a high deductible health plan as defined in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, the contract shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, or any other cost sharing on a valley fever screening or test for a covered individual that lives, works, or attends school in or that recently visited a high-incidence region for valley fever, unless not applying the deductible, coinsurance, or other cost sharing would conflict with federal requirements for high deductible health plans.
</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 5.</ns0:Num>
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The heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 122475) is added to Part 7.7 of Division 105 of the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>1.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>General Provisions</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 6.</ns0:Num>
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Section 122475 of the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>122475.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Valley Fever Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 7.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 122480) is added to Part 7.7 of Division 105 of the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading id="id_693FA8F3-8D62-4CF4-AD7A-F45E6FBCA1ED" type="CHAPTER">
<ns0:Num>2.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Screening and Prevention</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>122480.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The State Department of Public Health shall, to the extent feasible and using available data and resources, annually analyze and identify regions with elevated rates of valley fever based on
public health surveillance data and in consultation with subject matter experts. The department may revise its identification criteria over time in response to shifting patterns of disease incidence.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall publish its first list of high-incidence regions for valley fever on or before March 1, 2027.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall provide local health departments in high-incidence regions with detailed infection data and standardized screening protocols that align with the current national clinical practice recommendations
for valley fever.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall develop and distribute evidence-based training materials on valley fever screening, detection, diagnosis, and treatment for health care providers.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_32BCE44B-AF3C-4005-BE71-F1EC88AEA9B3">
<ns0:Num>122481.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Local health departments in high incidence areas shall conduct outreach to health care providers and the general public to raise awareness of valley fever risks, symptoms, and prevention strategies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Local health departments shall annually report to the State Department of Public Health the number of confirmed cases of valley fever.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_70A8BC03-9A1E-4E59-8715-97A542954A97">
<ns0:Num>122482.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, on or before January 1, 2030, and every two years thereafter, the department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the valley fever screening and prevention program and report its findings to the Legislature.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 8.</ns0:Num>
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Section 10123.25 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Insurance Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_A44D980F-99CA-4B77-AA7F-25E70632115D">
<ns0:Num>10123.25.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A health insurance policy shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on a valley fever screening or test provided pursuant to Section 1316.8 of the Health and Safety Code in high-incidence regions for valley fever for any covered individual that lives, works, or attends school in or that recently visited any
high-incidence region for valley fever.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a health insurance policy is a high deductible health plan, as defined in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, the policy shall not impose a deductible, coinsurance, or any other cost sharing on a valley fever screening test, unless not applying the deductible, coinsurance, or other cost sharing
would conflict with federal requirements for high deductible health plans.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 9.</ns0:Num>
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No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
</html:p>
<html:p>However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.</html:p>
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| Last Version Text Digest |
(1) Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health to, among other things, implement and administer various programs relating to public health. Existing law, the Valley Fever Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act, states the intent of the Legislature to raise awareness of the symptoms, tests, and treatments for valley fever among the general public, primary health care providers, and health care providers who care for persons at higher risk for getting valley fever. This bill, the Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025, would require the department, in consultation with subject matter experts, to the extent feasible and using available data and resources, including public health surveillance data, to annually analyze and identify regions with elevated rates of valley fever. The bill would require the department to publish its first list of high-incidence regions for valley fever on or before March 1, 2027. The bill would require the department to provide local health departments in high-incidence regions with detailed infection data and standardized screening protocols that align with the current national clinical practice recommendations for valley fever. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, and every 2 years thereafter, to evaluate the effectiveness of the valley fever screening and prevention program and report its findings to the Legislature. (2) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities and clinics by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill, commencing January 1, 2028, would require an adult patient receiving primary care services in a facility, clinic, unlicensed clinic, center, office, or other setting, and in a high-incidence region for valley fever, to be screened for valley fever, to the extent the services are covered under the patient’s health insurance, unless specified circumstances exist. If the results of a screening suggest that testing should be considered, the bill would require the health care provider to offer the patient diagnostic testing. If the test result is positive, the health care provider shall offer care, as specified, for valley fever management. The bill would prohibit a health care provider who, based on their professional judgment, determines it is not appropriate to screen, offer to screen, or consider or offer a patient testing for valley fever from being subject to any disciplinary action related to their licensure, certification, or privileges in relation to that determination. The bill would also prohibit a violation of these provisions from being the basis of civil or criminal liability. (3) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. |