PAC/LAC believes in the importance of staying informed about public policy – shaping and influencing the state laws and legislation that affect perinatal care – and also taking an active role to see that those changes find their way into our local hospitals.

Throughout our 30-year history, PAC/LAC has been a visible presence in the healthcare arena. We’ve worked with healthcare providers and legislators to advocate on a variety of important issues in maternal, child and adolescent health, including birth defects research, the nursing shortage, NICU provider staffing, length of maternity stay, contraceptive equity, and the California MCAH budget. Five years ago, PAC/LAC celebrated a major milestone with the co-authoring and passage of Senate Bill 246.

PAC/LAC also understands the need to impact, and set into motion, tangible policy changes at the healthcare system and hospital level. We work closely with physicians to guide, identify and implement best practice solutions at individual hospitals throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Advocacy & Legislation

PAC/LAC is a key player in public policy, governmental and legislative issues which impact the health of women, children, and families in California, as well as the ability of health care practitioners to provide quality of care. For the past three decades, PAC/LAC has established strong and reliable relationships with local and state representatives, and has served as a conduit of information related to maternal and child health.

One such collaboration, with Senator Liz Figueroa, produced Senate Bill 246, legislation which successfully exempted human milk from being licensed under strict and counterproductive tissue bank laws. SB 246, which was signed by then Governor Schwarzenegger, went into effect in January 2007.

During the crafting of SB 246, PAC/LAC lobbied with the local healthcare community in various ways:

• Convened community forums and roundtable discussions with hospital providers;
• Held advocacy workshops to educate healthcare workers about the legislative process;
• Traveled to Sacramento, visiting over 45 legislators to advocate its support of the bill; and,
• Gained support from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and California Medical Association.

Additionally, PAC/LAC also monitors and tracks new pieces of legislation benefiting the public health and perinatal care sectors, providing updates to its public health partners. Each year, PAC/LAC creates a comprehensive annual legislative agenda which includes a review of current and pending state medical legislation; a joint collaboration with  Maternal and Child Health Access. In addition PAC/LAC actively participates in a special public affairs committee headed by the March of Dimes.