AB-375
Health & Public Health

Medical Practice Act: health care providers: qualified autism service paraprofessionals.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Expands telehealth provider definitions to include qualified autism service paraprofessionals.
  • Requires healthcare providers to obtain patient consent before delivering telehealth services.
  • Maintains patient rights to receive in-person care even after agreeing to telehealth services.
  • Subjects telehealth providers to existing confidentiality laws and professional standards.

Summary

Assembly Member Nguyen's proposal to expand California's Medical Practice Act would classify qualified autism service paraprofessionals as recognized health care providers, placing them under the same telehealth practice requirements and professional standards that currently apply to autism service providers and professionals. The amendment to Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code would subject these paraprofessionals to existing regulations governing patient consent, confidentiality, and professional conduct in both in-person and telehealth settings.

The legislation maintains current telehealth practice requirements, under which providers must obtain and document patient consent before delivering remote services. These provisions preserve patients' rights to receive in-person care and ensure that all health information privacy laws apply equally to telehealth interactions. The bill excludes patients under Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation jurisdiction from these telehealth provisions.

While the amendment creates a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of regulated providers, it includes no reimbursement requirement for local agencies or school districts. The bill's authors note this is because the changes only affect the definition and classification of regulated providers rather than imposing new costs on local entities.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Stephanie NguyenD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Stephanie Nguyen
Stephanie NguyenD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/3/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 8, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
170118PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Expands telehealth provider definitions to include qualified autism service paraprofessionals.
  • Requires healthcare providers to obtain patient consent before delivering telehealth services.
  • Maintains patient rights to receive in-person care even after agreeing to telehealth services.
  • Subjects telehealth providers to existing confidentiality laws and professional standards.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Stephanie Nguyen
Stephanie NguyenD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Nguyen's proposal to expand California's Medical Practice Act would classify qualified autism service paraprofessionals as recognized health care providers, placing them under the same telehealth practice requirements and professional standards that currently apply to autism service providers and professionals. The amendment to Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code would subject these paraprofessionals to existing regulations governing patient consent, confidentiality, and professional conduct in both in-person and telehealth settings.

The legislation maintains current telehealth practice requirements, under which providers must obtain and document patient consent before delivering remote services. These provisions preserve patients' rights to receive in-person care and ensure that all health information privacy laws apply equally to telehealth interactions. The bill excludes patients under Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation jurisdiction from these telehealth provisions.

While the amendment creates a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of regulated providers, it includes no reimbursement requirement for local agencies or school districts. The bill's authors note this is because the changes only affect the definition and classification of regulated providers rather than imposing new costs on local entities.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/3/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 8, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Business And Professions Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
170118PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Stephanie NguyenD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member