This bill aims to assist individuals diagnosed with rare diseases in accessing existing support services and programs by requiring the Department of Social and Health Services and the Health Care Authority to study the feasibility and cost of implementing a point of contact for these individuals. The study will focus on increasing access and reducing barriers to navigating available programs, services, and resources. Both agencies are mandated to submit separate reports to the governor and legislative committees, with a preliminary report due by December 31, 2024, and a final report by June 30, 2025. The reports will include findings and recommendations on staff training, educational materials, service delivery assessments, and plans to enhance awareness of available resources for individuals with rare diseases.

Additionally, the Department of Social and Health Services is tasked with evaluating the current assessment and authorization processes to ensure that they adequately consider the symptoms of rare diseases. The report must summarize this evaluation and provide an implementation plan for incorporating rare disease symptoms into the assessment process. The bill defines a "rare disease" as one that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States and includes a provision for the section to expire on July 30, 2026.