Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program.

Senator Becker's Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program legislation establishes mobile telehealth facilities to serve California's farmworker populations, building upon an existing Half Moon Bay healthcare initiative. The Department of Public Health would oversee a grant program funding partnerships between community organizations to deploy vehicles or portable facilities equipped with computers, private consultation spaces, and telemedicine exam rooms in rural areas.

The program requires $2 million in initial funding from private donations, grants and other non-state sources before implementation can begin. Grant recipients must be selected based on criteria including their history of serving medically underserved communities, cultural and linguistic alignment with farmworker populations, and ability to collaborate with local healthcare providers. The facilities would offer virtual medical visits, mental health services, and educational programming.

Two years after launch, the Department must report to the Legislature on program outcomes, including demographic data about participants, types of services accessed, and identified barriers to care. The pilot program automatically terminates after the reporting period unless extended by subsequent legislation. All data collection and reporting must comply with federal and state medical privacy laws.