An Update on Our Telehealth Bill: AB 2164 (Rivas)
On behalf of The Children’s Partnership, California Health+ Advocates, Children Now, California Dental Association, and OCHIN, we are disappointed by Governor Newsom’s veto of AB 2164 (Rivas). This important bill would have ensured that community health centers could continue to establish patients using telehealth at community sites for six months after the state of emergency ends.
However, we remain committed to ensuring that historically underserved communities can access health care using this important modality. The flexibility to allow patients to be established via telehealth is currently in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency, yet the need for increased access to health care services will continue after the public health emergency is declared over. We look forward to collaborating with the administration on this issue.
We must continue to ensure telehealth is accessible for all communities in California—particularly communities of color and communities with low-incomes suffering disproportionate impacts of this pandemic.
For additional information and media inquiries, please contact:
Stephanie Thornton, The Children’s Partnership
sthornton@childrenspartnership.org
Maria Mejia, Children Now
Ayo Taylor, CaliforniaHealth+ Advocates
Dharia McGrew, California Dental Association
Jen Stoll, OCHIN
