The Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee unanimously has approved Senator Suzette Valladares’ (R-Santa Clarita) Senate Bill 508, which will provide patients with greater flexibility and more access to their established specialized care provider.

“I am thankful that the committee understands the importance of expanding access to specialized care for cancer patients,” said Valladares. “For some patients, the best, most specialized cancer care is out of state and hard to get to, particularly when health condition or age makes traveling difficult. This bill will ensure that patients who start care with an out-of-state provider are able to continue receiving care from that physician.”

Under current law, telehealth visits between physicians and patients are confined within state borders, with exceptions for individuals with terminal diagnoses or those enrolled in clinical trials. If a patient no longer meets the criteria, the patient must end care with that provider.

Senate Bill 508 seeks to improve the continuum of care by allowing patients, who at one point met these requirements, to continue to have telehealth visits with their out-of-state provider.

SB 508 will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.