Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify how many rural communities will benefit from this program initially, leaving some uncertainty about its scope.

Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program

This law establishes a pilot program to provide health services to farmworkers in rural areas through virtual health hubs, funded by grants and managed by the State Department of Public Health.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program to improve access to healthcare for farmworkers in rural communities.
• Requires the State Department of Public Health to distribute grants to partnerships of two community-based organizations to set up virtual health hubs.
• Specifies that each partnership must establish at least one virtual health hub with necessary equipment like computers, Wi-Fi, and exam rooms.
• Sets criteria for selecting grant recipients based on their history of serving medically underserved communities.
• Requires the State Department of Public Health to report back to the Legislature after two years about how well the program is working.

Who It Names or Affects

• Farmworkers in rural areas who will have better access to health services through virtual health hubs.
• Community-based organizations that can apply for grants to set up and run virtual health hubs.
• The State Department of Public Health which will manage the program and distribute grants.

Terms To Know

Virtual Health Hub

A place with technology like computers, Wi-Fi, and exam rooms that allows people to get healthcare services remotely through video calls or other digital means.

Community-based organizations

Local groups that provide support and services to their communities, often focusing on specific needs such as health care for underserved populations.

Limits and Unknowns

• The program will only start if there is at least $2 million in the Virtual Health Hub Fund.
• It's not clear how many rural communities will benefit from this program initially.
• The law does not specify what happens after two years when the initial report is due.

Official Summary Text

SB 338, Becker.
Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program.
Existing law establishes various programs to address the needs of migrant agricultural families. Existing law also provides funding to enhance and maintain rural health services.
This bill would establish the Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program, and would require the State Department of Public Health to administer the program to expand access to health services for farmworkers in rural communities. The bill would require the department to distribute grants to partnerships of 2 separate community-based organizations, except as specified, to establish and deploy virtual health hubs, as defined, and to administer the program and to provide technical assistance to the grant recipients for any licensing or reporting requirements necessary to fulfill the program obligations. The bill would outline criteria for the grants and require
the department to give priority to community-based organizations that meet specified criteria, including, but not limited to, a history of serving medically underserved communities. The bill would require the grant recipients, among other things, to deploy virtual health hubs in 2 rural communities based on farmworker population and access to health care and to submit specified information on the program to the department. Under the bill, the virtual health hubs would include, at a minimum, computers, Wi-Fi, cubicles for virtual visits, and exam rooms for telemedicine. The bill would create the Virtual Health Hub Fund and would condition implementation of these provisions on no General Fund moneys being used, there being a minimum of $2,000,000 in the fund, and the department posting a notice on its internet website. The bill would also require the department, 2 years after the notice is posted on the internet website, to submit a report to the Legislature and post to its internet website specified
information provided by the grant recipients, including age ranges and type of health services accessed by the people served.
The bill would repeal these provisions when specified conditions are met.
The bill would make findings and declarations in support of its provisions.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF