BILL NUMBER: AB 342	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly  Member   Bass
  Members   Bass   and Jones 
   (Coauthor: Senator Steinberg)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2009

    An act to amend Section 14166 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.   An act to add
Article 5.4 (commencing with Section 14180) to Chapter 7 of Part 3
of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to
Medi-Cal. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 342, as amended, Bass. Medi-Cal:  hospital 
demonstration project  waiver  . 
   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and
under which qualified low-income persons receive health care
benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by
federal Medicaid provisions.  
   This bill would require the department to submit an application to
the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver
to implement a demonstration project that improves health care, as
specified. The bill would require the department to submit the waiver
application by a date that shall ensure that the waiver is approved
by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by
September 1, 2010. The bill would condition implementation of the
waiver upon the enactment of subsequent statutory authorization.
 
   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and
under which qualified low-income persons receive health care
benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by
federal Medicaid provisions.  
   Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal Hospital/Uninsured Care
Demonstration Project Act, which revises hospital reimbursement
methodologies under the Medi-Cal program in order to maximize the use
of federal funds consistent with federal Medicaid law and stabilize
the distribution of funding for hospitals that provide care to
Medi-Cal beneficiaries and uninsured patients.  Under existing law,
the Legislature makes various findings and declarations with respect
to the above provisions.  
   This bill would delete those findings and declarations. 

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Article 5.4 (commencing with Section
14180) is added to Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the 
 Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:  

      Article 5.4.  Health Care Improvement Waiver


   14180.  (a) The department shall submit an application to the
federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver to
implement a demonstration project that does all of the following:
   (1) Strengthens California's health care safety net, which
includes disproportionate share hospitals, for low-income and
vulnerable Californians.
   (2) Maximizes opportunities to expand coverage to eligible, but
uninsured populations.
   (3) Optimizes opportunities to increase federal financial
participation and maximizes financial resources to address
uncompensated care.
   (4) Promotes long-term, efficient, and effective use of state and
local funds.
   (5) Improves health care outcomes.
   (b) In developing the waiver application, the department shall
consult with interested stakeholders and the Legislature.
   (c) The department shall determine the form of waiver most
appropriate to achieve the purposes listed in subdivision (a).
   (d) The department shall submit the waiver application to the
federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by a date that
shall ensure that the waiver is approved by September 1, 2010.
   (e) If the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
approves the waiver, the department shall only implement the
demonstration project upon enactment of subsequent statutory
authorization.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 14166 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code is amended to read:
   14166.  This article shall be known and may be cited as the
"Medi-Cal Hospital/Uninsured Care Demonstration Project Act."