AB 1868
Health facilities: cardiac surgery.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill directs the California Department of Public Health to update regulations regarding cardiac surgery in hospitals. Specifically, it requires the department to revise a regulation concerning the minimum number of surgeons needed for cardiovascular operative services that require extracorporeal bypass. The update is intended to align with current professional standards of care for this type of surgery. This change will ensure hospitals meet the most up-to-date medical practices.
Key provisions
- Requires the Department of Public Health to update regulations.
- Focuses on cardiac surgery and extracorporeal bypass procedures.
- Specifically addresses Section 70435(b)(2) paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 70435 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
- The update must reflect current professional standards of care.
- The update must be completed by January 1, 2030.
Who is affected
- Health facilities (hospitals)
- Cardiothoracic surgeons
- California Department of Public Health
- Patients undergoing cardiovascular operative services
Notable changes
- Updates existing regulations on cardiac surgery team size.
- Ensures regulations align with evolving professional standards.
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AB1868:v98#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Senate June 08, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1868
| Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher Hadwick (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Hadwick)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Jeff Gonzalez, Johnson, Macedo, Ellis, and Wallis) |
| February 11, 2026 |
An act to add Section 1255.4 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to health facilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1868, as amended, Gallagher Hadwick. Health facilities: cardiac surgery.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes a general acute care hospital to be approved to offer special services, including, among others, cardiac surgery. Existing regulation requires, when a general acute care hospital is providing cardiovascular operative service, that a minimum of 3 surgeons constitute a surgical team if the procedure requires extracorporeal bypass.
This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, to update that regulation to reflect current professional standards of care relating to extracorporeal bypass surgery.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1255.4 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
1255.4.
On or before January 1, 2030, the department shall update Section 70435(b)(2) paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 70435 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations to reflect current professional standards of care relating to extracorporeal bypass surgery.