BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 77
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SENATE THIRD READING
SB 77 (Budget and Fiscal Review Committee)
As Amended June 13, 2013
Majority vote. Budget Bill Appropriation Takes Effect Immediately
SENATE VOTE :Vote not relevant
SUMMARY : This is the Omnibus Health Trailer Bill for 2013-14. It
contains necessary changes related to the Budget Act of 2013. This
bill makes various statutory changes to implement the 2013-14
Budget. Specifically, this bill :
1)Provides for the continuation of Medi-Cal coverage for Foster Care
Youth who turn 21 between July 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013, for
$900,000 General Fund. Effective January 1, 2014, per the federal
Affordable Care Act (ACA), these young adults will remain eligible
for Medi-Cal until age 26.
2)Exempts preventative services and adult vaccines from cost-sharing
in order for the state to be eligible for enhanced federal funding
under the ACA. This provides for $7.5 million General Fund (GF)
savings.
3)Requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to accept a
grant from the California Endowment for Medi-Cal Enrollment
Assistance ($14 million) and Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment
Grants to Community-Based Organizations ($12.5 million) and obtain
$26.5 million in matching federal funds for these purposes.
4)Restores, in part, Medi-Cal Adult Dental Benefits effective May 1,
2014, for $55.3 million ($16.9 million General Fund). This
partial restoration includes preventive/diagnostic services,
restoration services (amalgams, composite and stainless steel
crowns), and full mouth dentures.
5)Restores Medi-Cal enteral nutrition benefits starting May 1, 2014,
for $3.4 million ($1.7 million GF).
6)Eliminates the seven visit cap on physician and clinic visits in
Medi-Cal, which has yet to receive federal approval or to be
implemented.
7)Extends the time period for which laboratory service providers
have to submit data reports specifying their lowest amounts other
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payers are paying. This is necessary as the process to develop
the new rate methodology has taken longer than anticipated.
8)Eliminates the sunset date for specialty provider contracting.
The elimination of this sunset date achieves ongoing $6.9 million
GF savings.
9)Requires DHCS to post on its Web site proposed State Plan
Amendments (SPAs), waiver amendments, and waiver renewals that it
has submitted to the federal government. This would provide
legislative staff and stakeholders with the opportunity to review
and comment on the state's implementation of policy.
10)Transfers mental health facility licensing and quality
improvement functions from the Department of Social Services to
DHCS.
11)Incorporates the measuring and evaluating of Medi-Cal managed
care plans' screenings for mental health needs and their referrals
for these services (to both Medi-Cal fee-for-service providers and
county mental health plans) into the Early and Periodic Screening,
Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) performance outcome system.
Requires stakeholder involvement in this effort, and requires the
department to develop a plan for the incorporation of these
factors into the outcome system, due to the Legislature by October
1, 2014.
12)Requires DHCS to consult with stakeholders prior to the submittal
of the Behavioral Health Services Plan to the federal government.
13)Adopts technical amendments to ensure the cost neutrality of SB
1462 (Leno), Chapter 837, Statutes of 2012, which provides
Medi-Cal coverage to eligible county inmates on medical parole and
inmates granted compassionate release.
14)Transitions Access for Infants (AIM)-linked infants, born to
women whose income is between 250 and 300% of the federal poverty
level, from the Healthy Families Program to DHCS.
15)Ends the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board's (MRMIB's)
responsibility regarding the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
(PCIP) effective July 1, 2013, as the federal government will take
over administration of this program.
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16)Extends the date in which MRMIB can subsidize the premium
contributions paid to individuals receiving coverage in Managed
Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP). This change is necessary
as MRMIP will remain a program beyond December 31, 2013.
17)Defines and clarifies the purpose and structure of the Safe
Cosmetics Program Web site and requires that the Web site be
operational by December 31, 2013.
18)Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to report to the
Legislature if the assumptions it used to determine the transition
of AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) clients to Low Income
Health Programs may result in an inability to provide ADAP
services to eligible ADAP clients.
19)Requires DPH to submit a plan to the Legislature on how it will
address the findings and recommendations from its review of the
BabyBIG program to ensure that an adequate supply of the vaccine
is available to meet demand.
20)Reappropriates approximately $1 million in federal funds to the
Department of Managed Health Care for purposes of continuing
operation of consumer assistance programs to help uninsured
individuals obtain health coverage.
21)Contains an appropriation allowing this bill to take effect
immediately upon enactment.
COMMENT : This bill is a budget trailer bill within the overall
2013-14 budget package to implement actions taken affecting the
Departments of Health Care Services, Managed Health Care, Public
Health, and Social Services, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance
Board, and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability
Commission.
Analysis prepared by : Andrea Margolis / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099
FN: 0001163
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