AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 31, 2012

SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 2

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIVENS

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR SENATOR STEIR)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 2: HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION THERAPY.

EXISTING FEDERAL LAW AUTHORIZES THE UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) TO REGULATE THE MANUFACTURE, MARKETING, AND SALE OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBERS AS CLASS II MEDICAL DEVICES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROPOSE TO HAVE ADDITIIONAL BILLING INDICATORS FOR HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION THERAPY ASSIGNED CREATING ACCESS TO A BROADER RANGE OF PATIENTS INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 2: RELATING TO HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION THERAPY

WHEREAS, THE FIRST HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA IN 1975 AND ARE CURRENTLY HELD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD EVERY YEAR SINCE; AND

WHEREAS, HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION TREATMENT IS A MODALITY IN WHICH THE ENTIRE BODY IS EXPOSED TO OXYGEN IN A COMPRESSION-TYPE CHAMBER WHEREBY AIR IS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH PURE OXYGEN UNDER APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR TIMES NORMAL ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WHICH ALLOWS THE ENTIRE BODY TO BREATHE AND GAIN THE BENEFITS OF TREATMENT BY OXYGEN; AND

WHEREAS, IN RECENT YEARS, THE HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION METHOD OF TREATMENT HAS GAINED ACCEPTANCE BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN TREATING STROKE, HEART ATTACK, SEVERE BURNS, GANGRENE, DIABETIC WOUNDS, BRAIN TRAUMA, SMOKING, AND EVEN IN VETERINARY CARE; AND

WHEREAS, MANY PATIENTS, INCLUDING ELDERLY AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, ARE DENIED HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION TREATMENT DUE TO BILLING INADEQUACIES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT, IN ORDER TO HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO HYPERBARIC OXYGENATION THERAPY, ADDITIONAL INDICATORS BE ASSIGNED CREATING ACCESS TO A BROADER RANGE OF PATIENTS INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

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