Assemblywoman's hospital bill approved

SACRAMENTO - Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria announced that AB 3275 passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and is on its way to the Governor. The bill is jointly authored by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.

AB 3275 requires a health plan or health insurer, including Medi-Cal managed care plans, to reimburse a claim or a portion of a claim, unless contested, within 30 days, that is submitted by a small and rural, critical access or distressed hospital provider.

AB 3275 aims to streamline payments to help ensure that hospitals, such as Madera Community Hospital, who serve a large percentage of Medi-Cal and Medicare patients, receive timely payments to operate and reduce financial vulnerability. "AB 3275 will ensure timely claim reimbursements to small, rural and critical access hospitals while strengthening their financial stability" said Assemblywoman Soria. "With the closure of Madera Community Hospital, we saw this as one of the issues that emerged. Several other of our California hospitals are experiencing financial distress and delays in receiving payment for services is further undermining their fiscal stability. This bill will help more hospitals keep their doors open to provide healthcare services to the community."

"We are committed to maintaining access to care for all Californians, and this bill will provide and strengthen the financial stability our hospitals desperately need to keep their doors open and continue serving communities" said Rivas. "I commend Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria for her leadership on this critical legislation that will ensure continued access and provide Californians with essential health-care services."

Nursing

opportunities

approved

Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria announced that her bill, AB 2104, to improve acpand cess to nursing bachelor degrees has been approved by the Legislature and next will be considered by the Governor.

AB 2104 authorizes the California Community Colleges to establish a pilot program to allow up to 10 community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

This bill is in direct response to the closure of Madera Community Hospital and the shortage of healthcare workers which disproportionately impacts Central Valley communities, which are medically underserved.

AB 2104 prioritizes program placement to broadly recognized underserved nursing areas and will ex- access and affordability of these degrees in local communities including Madera, Merced and Fresno.

"The shortage of nurses in California is hurting our most vulnerable communities, many in the Central Valley," said Assemblywoman Soria. "Expanding access to nursing training programs is necessary to tackle this workforce challenge. AB 2104 will grow our nursing workforce in areas of the state most in need and help us better serve the healthcare needs of our communities."

"The significance of AB 2104 advancing through Legislature cannot be understated, as expanding the pipeline to meet California's demand for qualified nurses is imperative," said Chancellor Dr. Carole Goldsmith, State Center Community College District. "Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria's leadership in introducing legislation allowing community colleges to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees is crucial in addressing California's nursing shortage. With recent hospital closures in Madera County and elsewhere, it's imperative that we act now.

"We are proud to support Assemblymember Soria in her legislative quest to make this bill a reality. I'm proud of the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees who firmly support expanding educational opportunities and improved healthcare outcomes for all Californians."