CA AB 2756 Would Force DHCS to Publicly Report Medi-Cal Vision Quality — After Data Shows Only 16% of Medi-Cal Kids Got Eye Care

AB 2756 (Ahrens), sponsored by the California Optometric Association and now in the Assembly Health Committee (amended March 2, 2026), would require DHCS to establish and publicly report equity-stratified Medi-Cal vision quality, access, and utilization measures with annual benchmarks. The bill follows an April 2, 2026 CalMatters/COA report finding only 16% of school-age Medi-Cal children received eye care in 2022-24 (down from 19%), declines in 47 of 58 counties, and a ~$47 comprehensive exam rate unchanged for 25 years — leaving only ~10% of COA optometrists accepting Medi-Cal. Strategic implication for FQHC leaders: (1) FQHCs are core Medi-Cal pediatric vision providers — mandated DHCS reporting will surface site-level performance and raise screening/referral expectations; (2) the rate-stagnation spotlight strengthens the case for vision-service revenue investment (see our Vision Care briefing); (3) pair AB 2756 advocacy with the stalled NHSC Improvement Act (HR 920/S.1445) that would restore optometrist NHSC eligibility for recruitment; (4) FQHCs with optometry should benchmark their pediatric eye-exam rates now, ahead of public reporting.