Health committee backs demonstration to expand specialty care access via hybrid telehealth model

The Assembly Health Committee on March 25 approved AB 257, a bill by Assemblymember Flora to establish a demonstration project using a hybrid virtual care model to increase specialty care access for Medi‑Cal beneficiaries served by safety-net clinics.

Flora described AB 257 as a means to address clinician shortages and provide specialty care access through a hybrid model that integrates virtual services into community health centers’ workflows. Jennifer Stoll, chief external affairs officer for OCHIN, said the national nonprofit technology organization supports about half of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in California and cited data showing that only about 30% of specialty referrals for vulnerable patients are completed under current processes.

Stoll described prior pilots (including work in Oregon) where integrating e-consults and virtual visits into primary care workflows reduced long waits for dermatology from months to about two weeks and produced cost savings per patient. Committee members asked whether participating specialists would be licensed in California; witnesses clarified the intent is to partner with California-based clinicians and health centers, while OCHIN would provide technology and program support.

The committee adopted amendments to broaden the applicant pool and require an independent evaluation, then voted to refer the amended bill to appropriations. Members representing rural districts emphasized the bill’s potential to improve access where in‑person specialty care is scarce.

Discussion versus action: The committee recorded acceptance of amendments and a motion to due pass as amended to appropriations; the committee recorded roll-call and the bill was referred to appropriations.