Policy Briefs

Policy at a Glance

IHPL develops informative policy briefs regarding pertinent bills being considered by the California State Legislature or the United States Congress. The briefs review the specifics of the bills, examining supporters and opponents, their rationale, and the bills' implications for Seventh-day Adventist health systems. The briefs are available for viewing below. To access previous issues, please visit our archive.

December 2024. Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 (H.R. 7623)

This brief provides an overview of the impact of telehealth on quality of healthcare services and efforts to extend telehealth flexibilities through the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 (H.R. 7623).

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November 2024. Maternal Healthcare Access and Screening: SB 1300 and AB 1936

This brief provides an overview of the current state of maternity care in California, the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review, and the state's latest legislative efforts to address maternity ward closures and maternal mental health.

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October 2024. Health Propositions on the 2024 California Ballot

This brief provides an overview of the health-related propositions on the 2024 California ballot.

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September 2024. Medi-Cal: Medically Supportive Food and Nutrition Interventions (A.B. 1975)

This brief provides an overview of AB 1975, California's bill on providing Medi-Cal coverage for medically supportive food and nutrition interventions, along with additional healthy food incentive programs in California.

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August 2024. Health (SB 159)

This brief provides an overview of some of the provisions of SB 159, California's latest budget trailer bill for healthcare,

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July 2024. Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 (H.R. 3843)

This brief provides an overview of the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 (H.R. 3843), which aims to continue grants for important oral health initiatives through fiscal year 2028.

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June 2024. Emergency Services: Psychiatric Emergency Medical Conditions (AB 1316)

This brief provides an overview of the current state of behavioral health in California and the proposed changes to psychiatric emergency medical care by AB 1316.

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May 2024. Consolidated Appropriations Acts for 2024

This brief provides an overview of some of the housing, education, health, and labor provisions outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366) and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 2882), which are packages of federal spending bills that allocate funding for government agencies and programs until the end of fiscal year 2024.

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April 2024. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking

In honor of National Child Abuse Awareness Month, this brief provides an overview of the Jenna Quinn Law and proposed federal legislation aimed at combatting child sexual abuse and human trafficking in the United States.

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March 2024. California’s FY 2024-25 Budget Proposal

This policy brief highlights the Governor's proposed budget for various housing programs, select health and human services programs, and the Managed Care Organization tax in light of the state's budget deficit.

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February 2024. Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (H.R. 2872)

This brief highlights some of the health-related programs whose funding is affected by HR 2872, the latest stopgap government spending bill for FY 2024.

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January 2024. New California Health Policies Going into Effect on January 1, 2024

This brief highlights key health legislation signed in 2023 that will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

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December 2023. Pharmacist Service Coverage (AB 317)

This brief provides an overview of AB 317 and how it allows pharmacists to be reimbursed for the services they provide.

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November 2023. California’s Mental Health Services Act Reform

This brief provides an overview of California's plan to transform its mental health system through two key bills: the Behavioral Health Services Act (SB 326) and the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023 (AB 531).

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October 2023. Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act (H.R. 2544)

This brief explores the current Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and the efforts to improve it through H.R. 2544.

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September 2023. Budget Act of 2023: Health (AB 118)

This brief will provide an overview of how California's Budget Act of 2023: Health (AB 118), an omnibus health trailer bill, will affect various healthcare departments and initiatives in the state.

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August 2023. Social Determinants of Health: Screening and Outreach (AB 85)

This brief provides background information on social determinants of health (SDOH) and gives an overview of California’s proposal to address SDOH through AB 85.

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July 2023. Federal and California State Efforts to Promote Disability Rights

In honor of July being Disability Pride Month, this policy brief explores proposed legislation at California state and federal levels to promote disability rights, equity, and inclusivity.

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June 2023. Federal Policies Proposed to Address the Healthcare Workforce Challenges

This policy brief explores federal policies recently introduced to address the current healthcare workforce challenges in the United States.

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May 2023. Health Provisions in President Biden’s FY 2024 Budget Proposal

This policy brief provides an overview of key health provisions outlined in President Biden’s FY 2024 budget proposal.

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April 2023. Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act (S. 2796)

This brief provides an overview of the barriers to addiction recovery services in rural communities and how the Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act (S. 2769) aims to combat the opioid epidemic in these communities.

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March 2023. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617)

This brief provides an overview of some of the healthcare provisions outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617), a $1.7 trillion funding package for the U.S. federal government for fiscal year 2023.

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February 2023. California’s Efforts to Improve Oral Health

This brief provides an overview of the oral health components of California’s FY 2022-23 Budget, which made significant investments in dental workforce development and access to oral health care.

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January 2023. Federal and California State Efforts to Improve Nutrition through Policy

This brief focuses on how the United States and California are using policy as a tool to combat malnutrition and improve nutrition.

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