Legislative Advisory: AB 32 (Aguiar-Curry, Chapter 515 Statutes of 2022) - Telehealth (Effective January 1, 2023).

AB 32 (Aguiar-Curry, Chapter 515 Statutes of 2022) - Telehealth was signed by Governor Newsom on September 25, 2022, and becomes effective January 1, 2023. This bill amends Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) sections 14132.100 and 14132.725 to authorize the State Department of Health Care Services to authorize a federally qualified health center (FQHC) or rural health clinic (RHC) to establish a new patient relationship using an audio-only synchronous interaction when the visit is related to sensitive services, and authorize an FQHC or RHC to establish a new patient relationship using an audio-only synchronous interaction when the patient requests an audio-only modality or attests they do not have access to video.

This change expands access to care for patients of RQHCs or RHCs by allowing a greater use of telehealth appointments to establish new patient relationships