Category: Health Care
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The AIDS Treatment Access Act: How SB 1944 Sought to Expand Access to Protease Inhibitor Treatments
In 1996, the California resident living with HIV who could benefit from the new protease inhibitor treatments was, in most cases, a resident who could not afford the new treatments. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that subsidized the cost. The law was SB 1944, and it DIED IN COMMITTEE in May 1996.
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The HIV Medicaid Expansion Act: How SB 1035 Sought to Expand California HIV Medication Access
In 1997, the California resident living with HIV but not yet eligible for the full AIDS disability benefits was, in most cases, a resident who could not afford the HIV medication. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that expanded the eligibility. The law was SB 1035, VETOED by Governor Wilson in September 1997.
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The Uninsured Hospital Discount Act: How SB 1255 Ended the Penalty for Being Uninsured in California
In the mid-1990s, the uninsured patient in California who received a hospital bill was, in many cases, receiving a bill for the full list price, two to three times the rate charged to Medicare or Medi-Cal. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that ended the penalty. The law was SB 1255.
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The Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Act: How AB 757 Carved Mental Health Out of Standard Medi-Cal
In the early 1990s, a Medi-Cal beneficiary in California who needed specialty mental health services was, in most cases, unable to find a provider. Assembly Member Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that carved the services out of standard Medi-Cal and gave county mental health departments the responsibility for delivering them. The law was AB…
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The Pharmacy Technician Licensing Act: How AB 1244 Created the Missing Workforce Category in California Pharmacy
In the early 1990s, a California pharmacist who filled more than 100 prescriptions in a day was filling them with no qualified help. Assembly Member Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that created the missing category. The law was AB 1244, the Pharmacy Technician Licensing Act.
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The AIDS Hospice Licensing Act: How AB 4536 Built a Legal Category for End-of-Life Care in the Epidemic
In 1988, at the height of the AIDS epidemic in California, the state had a hospice licensing system built around general end-of-life care. The system had no category for the kind of care that AIDS patients needed. Assembly Member Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that created the category. The law was AB 4536, the…