Existing law establishes various programs to address the needs of migrant agricultural families. Existing law also provides funding to enhance and maintain rural health services.
This bill would establish the Mobile Health for Rural Communities Pilot Program, and require the State Department of Health Care Services to administer the program to expand access to health services for farmworkers in rural communities. The bill would authorize the department to work with a community organization, including Ayudando Latinos a Soñar or other community foundations, to assist in the administration of the program. The bill would require the department, among other things, to deploy mobile units, as defined, in 2 rural communities based on farmworker population and access to health care. Under the bill, the mobile units would include, at a minimum, computers, Wi-Fi, cubicles for virtual visits, and exam rooms for telemedicine. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2027, to report the outcomes of the program to the Legislature. The bill would create the Farmworkers Health Equity Fund and would condition implementation of these provisions on no General Fund moneys being used.
The bill would make findings and declarations in support of its provisions.