On Wednesday, April 4th, we took an important step forward to increase access to asthma home visiting services in California!
The Senate Health Committee, on an 8-0 bipartisan vote, advanced SB 207, our proposal for asthma preventive services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries with poorly controlled asthma.
The bill would support asthma education and home environmental trigger assessments provided by qualified non-licensed professionals under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Resources would also support minor-to-moderate remediation of environmental triggers, which includes low-cost but high impact approaches such as providing mattress and pillowcase covers, using HEPA vacuums, and utilizing Integrated Pest Management.
At the hearing, RAMP’s Associate Director shared an overview of the value of these services. Emily Lopez, a Community Health Worker with the Central California Asthma Collaborative (CCAC), described her work with families to build trust, provide essential education, and help them reduce triggers in their home. She also read a statement from Faustino Perez, whose family’s health has improved dramatically with CCAC’s home visiting support.
Senator Hurtado, our legislative champion on this issue, also spoke to the value of the home visiting model and the need for it in the Central Valley and throughout the state. Senators Stone, Rubio and Pan also vocalized their support for this important bill. Representatives from other organizations showed up for a brief “me too” in support.
There’s still a long way to go, but we’re off to a strong start! The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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