Mobile Health for Rural Communities Pilot Program.

Senator Becker's proposal for mobile health units in California's rural farming communities aims to connect agricultural workers with virtual medical care and mental health services through a new pilot program administered by the Department of Health Care Services. The initiative would establish technology-equipped mobile facilities in two rural counties, selected based on farmworker population and existing healthcare access.

The mobile units would provide computers, Wi-Fi connectivity, private spaces for virtual medical visits, and examination rooms configured for telemedicine appointments. The Department would coordinate with medical teams, educators, and volunteers to deliver additional on-site programming at rural farm locations. According to UC Merced survey data cited in the bill's findings, 49% of California farmworkers lack health insurance, while 43% visited a medical clinic in the previous year.

The Department must evaluate the program's outcomes and submit a report to the Legislature by January 2027. The findings note that transportation barriers and concerns about missing work often prevent farmworkers from accessing care, with 97% of California's agricultural workforce identifying as Latino and 44% reporting they do not speak or read English. The pilot program aims to address these access challenges by bringing virtual healthcare services directly to rural agricultural communities.