BILL NUMBER: AB 1591	CHAPTERED  09/29/06

	CHAPTER  719
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 29, 2006
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 21, 2006
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 14, 2006
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 13, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 12, 2006
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 4, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chan
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Berg, Jones, and Liu)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2005

   An act to amend Section 14132.41 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Medi-Cal.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1591, Chan  Medi-Cal: nurse practitioners.
   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Services, pursuant to
which medical benefits are provided to public assistance recipients
and certain other low-income persons.  Existing law provides that
services provided by a certified nurse practitioner are covered under
the Medi-Cal program to the extent mandated by federal law, and
requires the department to permit a certified family nurse
practitioner or a certified pediatric nurse practitioner to bill
Medi-Cal independently for his or her services.
   This bill would provide, instead, that these services are covered
to the extent authorized by federal law, and would require that the
department permit any certified nurse practitioner to bill for these
services.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 14132.41 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
is amended to read:
   14132.41.  (a) Services provided by a certified nurse practitioner
shall be covered under this chapter to the extent authorized by
federal law, and subject to utilization controls. The department
shall permit a certified nurse practitioner to bill Medi-Cal
independently for his or her services. If a certified nurse
practitioner chooses to bill Medi-Cal independently for his or her
services, the department shall make payment directly to the certified
nurse practitioner.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "certified" means nationally
board certified in a recognized specialty.