SB 508, as amended, Hernandez. Medi-Cal: eligibility.
(1) Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires, with some exceptions, a Medi-Cal applicant’s or beneficiary’s income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as specified. Existing law requires the department to establish income eligibility thresholds for those eligibility groups whose eligibility will be determined using MAGI-based financial methods.
This bill would codify the income eligibility thresholds established by the department and would make other related and conforming changes.
(2) Existing law requires the department to implement specified provisions of federal law to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual who is in foster care on his or her 18th birthday until his or her 26th birthday, as specified.
This bill would instead require the department to implement those provisions to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual until his or her 26th birthday if he or she was in foster care on his or her 18th birthday orbegin delete lost his or her eligibility for foster care assistance due to having reached the maximum age for that assistance.end deletebegin insert such higher age at which the state’s or tribe’s foster care assistance ends under federal law. The bill would, if permitted under future federal regulations or guidance, require the
department to provide Medi-Cal benefits under these provisions to an individual who left foster care before reaching the age at which the state’s or tribe’s foster care assistance ends under federal law.end insert The bill would also require the department to exercise its option under federal law to extend Medi-Cal benefits to independent foster care adolescents, as specified.
This bill would require the department to exercise its option under federal law to extend Medi-Cal benefits to individuals under 21 years of age placed in foster homes or private institutions and individuals under 21 years of age for whom a specified adoption agreement is in effect. The bill would require that all of the income considered when determining an individual’s eligibility under these provisions be disregarded.
end insertBecause
counties are required to make eligibility determinations and thisbegin delete willend deletebegin insert
billend insert would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local programbegin insert.end insert
(3) Existing law, for purposes of determining eligibility, defines, in part, a medicallybegin delete needend deletebegin insert
needyend insert family person as a parent or caretaker relative of a child who meets the deprivation requirements of Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
This bill would delete the requirement that the parent or caretaker relative meet the deprivation requirements.
(4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 14005.20 of the Welfare and Institutions
2Code is amended to read:
(a) The State Department of Health Care Services
4shall adopt the option made available under Section
51902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XII) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security
6Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XII)) to pay allowable
7tuberculosis related services for persons infected with tuberculosis.
8(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the income and
9resources of these persons may not exceed the maximum amount
10for a disabled person as described in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of
11Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
121396a(a)(10)(A)(i)).
13(2) Effective January 1, 2014, the income and resources of
14individuals
eligible under this section may not exceed the
15maximum amount for a disabled person as described in Section
161902(a)(10)(A)(i) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act
17(42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)), as determined, counted, and
18valued in accordance with the requirements of Section 14005.64.
19(c) The amendments made by the act that added this subdivision
20shall be implemented only if and to the extent that federal financial
21participation is available and any necessary federal approvals have
22been obtained.
Section 14005.26 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
24 is amended to read:
(a) begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insert Except as provided in subdivision (b), the
26department shall exercise the option pursuant to Section
271902(a)(l0)(A)(ii)(XIV) of the federal Social Security Act (42
28U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XIV)) to provide full-scope
29benefits with no share of cost under this chapter and Chapter 8
30(commencing with Section 14200) to optional targeted low-income
31children pursuant to Section 1905(u)(2)(B) of the federal Social
32Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396d(u)(2)(B)), with family incomes
33up to and including 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The
34department shall seek federal approval of a
state plan amendment
35to implement this subdivision.
36(2) (A) Pursuant to Section 1902(r)(2) of the federal Social
37Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(r)(2)), the department shall
38adopt the option to use less restrictive income and resource
P4 1methodologies to exempt all resources and disregard income at
2or above 200 percent and up to and including 250 percent of the
3federal poverty level for the individuals described in paragraph
4(1). The department shall seek federal approval of a state plan
5amendment to implement this subdivision.
6(B) This paragraph shall be inoperative on January 1, 2014.
end insert
7(b) Effective January 1, 2014, the federal poverty level
8percentage income eligibility threshold used pursuant to
9subdivision (c) of Section 14005.64 to determine eligibility for
10medical assistance under subdivision (a) shall equal 261 percent
11of the federal poverty level.
12(c) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section,
13the department may adopt the option pursuant to Section
141902(e)(13) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
151396a(e)(13)) to rely upon findings of the Managed Risk Medical
16Insurance Board (MRMIB) regarding one or more components of
17eligibility.
18(d) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the
19department shall exercise the option pursuant to Section 1916A
20of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396o-1) to
21impose premiums for individuals described in subdivision
(a)
22whose family income has been determined to be above 150 percent
23and up to and including 200 percent of the federal povertybegin delete level.end delete
24begin insert level, after application of the income disregard pursuant to
25paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).end insert The department shall not impose
26premiums under this subdivision for individuals described in
27subdivision (a) whose family income has been determined to be
28at or below 150 percent of the federal povertybegin delete level.end deletebegin insert
level, after
29application of the income disregard pursuant to paragraph (2) of
30subdivision (a).end insert The department shall obtain federal approval for
31the implementation of this subdivision.
32(B) Effective January 1, 2014, the department shall impose a
33premium pursuant to subparagraph (A) for individuals whose
34family income has been determined to be above 160 percent and
35up to and including 261 percent of the federal poverty level, as
36determined, counted, and valued in accordance with the
37requirements of Section 14005.64.
38(2) (A) Monthly premiums imposed under this section shall
39equal thirteen dollars ($13) per child with a maximum contribution
40of thirty-nine dollars ($39) per family.
P5 1(B) Families that pay three months of required premiums in
2advance shall receive
the fourth consecutive month of coverage
3with no premium required. For purposes of the discount provided
4by this subparagraph, family contributions paid in the Healthy
5Families Program for children transitioned to Medi-Cal pursuant
6to Section 14005.27 shall be credited as Medi-Cal premiums paid.
7(C) Families that pay the required premium by an approved
8means of electronic funds transfer, including credit card payment,
9shall receive a 25-percent discount from the required premium. If
10the department and the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board
11determine that it is feasible, the department shall treat an
12authorization for electronic funds transfer or credit card payment
13to the Healthy Families Program as an authorization for electronic
14funds transfer or credit card payment to Medi-Cal.
15(e) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that all
16necessary federal approvals and
waivers described in this section
17have been obtained and the enhanced rate of federal financial
18participation under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act
19(42 U.S.C. Sec. 1397aa et seq.) is available for targeted low-income
20children pursuant to that act.
21(f) The department shall not enroll targeted low-income children
22described in this section in the Medi-Cal program until all
23necessary federal approvals and waivers have been obtained, and
24no sooner than January 1, 2013.
25(g) (1) begin deleteTo end deletebegin insert(A)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), to end insertthe
26extent the new budget methodology pursuant to paragraph (6) of
27subdivision (a) of Section 14154 is not fully
operational, for the
28purposes of implementing this section, for individuals described
29in subdivision (a) whose family income has been determined to
30be up to and includingbegin delete 160end deletebegin insert 150end insert percent of the federal povertybegin delete level,end delete
31begin insert level, as determined pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), end insert
32
the department shall utilize the budgeting methodology for this
33population as contained in the November 2011 Medi-Cal Local
34Assistance Estimate for Medi-Cal county administration costs for
35eligibility operations.
36(B) Effective January 1, 2014, to the extent the new budget
37methodology pursuant to paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of
38Section 14154 is not fully operational, for purposes of
39implementing this section for individuals whose family income has
40been determined to be up to and including 160 percent of the
P6 1federal poverty level, the department shall utilize the budgeting
2methodology for this population as contained in the November
32011 Medi-Cal Local Assistance Estimate for Medi-Cal county
4administration costs for eligibility operations.
5(2) begin deleteFor end deletebegin insert(A)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), for end insert
6purposes of implementing this section, the department shall include
7in the Medi-Cal Local Assistance Estimate an amount for Medi-Cal
8eligibility operations associated with the individuals whose family
9income is determined to be abovebegin delete 160end deletebegin insert 150end insert percent and up to and
10includingbegin delete 261end deletebegin insert 200end insert
percent of the federal povertybegin delete level.end deletebegin insert
level, after
11application of the income disregard pursuant to paragraph (2) of
12subdivision (a).end insert In developing an estimate for this activity, the
13department shall consider the projected number of final eligibility
14determinations each county will process and projected county
15costs. Within 60 days of the passage of the annual Budget Act, the
16department shall notify each county of their allocation for this
17activity based upon the amount allotted in the annual Budget Act
18for this purpose.
19(B) Effective January 1, 2014, for purposes of implementing
20this section, the department shall include in the Medi-Cal Local
21Assistance Estimate an amount for Medi-Cal eligibility operations
22associated with the individuals whose family income is determined
23to be above 160 percent and up to and including 261 percent of
24the federal poverty
level.
25(h) When the new budget methodology pursuant to paragraph
26(6) of subdivision (a) of Section 14154 is fully operational, the
27new budget methodology shall be utilized to reimburse counties
28for eligibility determinations made for individuals pursuant to this
29section.
30(i) Eligibility determinations and annual redeterminations made
31pursuant to this section shall be performed by county eligibility
32workers.
33(j) In conducting eligibility determinations for individuals
34pursuant to this section and Section 14005.27, the following
35reporting and performance standards shall apply to all counties:
36(1) Counties shall report to the department, in a manner and for
37a time period prescribed by the department, in consultation with
38the County
Welfare Directors Association, the number of
39applications processed on a monthly basis, a breakout of the
40applications based on income using the federal percentage of
P7 1poverty levels, the final disposition of each application, including
2information on the approved Medi-Cal program, if applicable, and
3the average number of days it took to make the final eligibility
4determination for applications submitted directly to the county and
5from the single point of entry (SPE).
6(2) Notwithstanding any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete law, the following
7performance standards shall be applied to counties regarding
8eligibility determinations for individuals eligible pursuant to this
9section:
10(A) For children whose applications are received by the county
11human services department from the SPE, the following standards
12shall
apply:
13(i) Applications for children who are granted accelerated
14enrollment by the SPE shall be processed according to the
15timeframes specified in subdivision (d) of Section 14154.
16(ii) Applications for children who are not granted accelerated
17enrollment by the SPE due to the existence of an already active
18Medi-Cal case shall be processed according to the timeframes
19specified in subdivision (d) of Section 14154.
20(iii) For applications for children who are not described in clause
21(i) or (ii), 90 percent shall be processed within 10 working days
22of being received, complete and without client errors.
23(iv) If an application described in this section also contains
24adults, and the adult applicants are required to submit additional
25information beyond the
information provided for the children, the
26county shall process the eligibility for the child or children without
27delay, consistent with this section while gathering the necessary
28information to process eligibility for the adults.
29(B) The department, in consultation with the County Welfare
30Directors Association, shall develop reporting requirements for
31the counties to provide regular data to the state regarding the
32timeliness and outcomes of applications processed by the counties
33that are received from the SPE.
34(C) Performance thresholds and corrective action standards as
35set forth in Section 14154 shall apply.
36(D) For applications submitted directly to the county, these
37applications shall be processed by the counties in accordance with
38the performance standards established under subdivision (d) of
39Section 14154.
P8 1(3) This subdivision shall be implemented no sooner than
2January 1, 2013.
3(4) Twelve months after implementation of this section pursuant
4to subdivision (f), the department shall provide enrollment
5information regarding individuals determined eligible pursuant to
6subdivision (a) to the fiscal and appropriate policy committees of
7the Legislature.
8(k) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
911340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
10for purposes of this transition, the department, without taking any
11further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, or make
12specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters,
13plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time
14regulations are adopted. It is the intent of the Legislature that
the
15department be allowed temporary authority as necessary to
16implement program changes until completion of the regulatory
17process.
18(2) To the extent otherwise required by Chapter 3.5
19(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
202 of the Government Code, the department shall adopt emergency
21regulations implementing this section no later than July 1, 2014.
22The department may thereafter readopt the emergency regulations
23pursuant to that chapter. The adoption and readoption, by the
24department, of regulations implementing this section shall be
25deemed to be an emergency and necessary to avoid serious harm
26to the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare for purposes
27of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and
28the department is hereby exempted from the requirement that it
29describe facts showing the need for immediate action and from
30review by the Office of Administrative Law.
31(l) To implement this section, the department may enter into
32and continue contracts with the Healthy Families Program
33administrative vendor, for the purposes of implementing and
34maintaining the necessary systems and activities for providing
35health care coverage to optional targeted low-income children in
36the Medi-Cal program for purposes of accelerated enrollment
37application processing by single point of entry,
38noneligibility-related case maintenance and premium collection,
39maintenance of the Health-E-App Web portal, call center staffing
40and operations, certified application assistant services, and
P9 1reporting capabilities. To further implement this section, the
2department may also enter into a contract with the Health Care
3Options Broker of the department for purposes of managed care
4enrollment activities. The contracts entered into or amended under
5this section may initially be completed on a noncompetitive bid
6basis and are exempt from the Public
Contract Code. Contracts
7thereafter shall be entered into or amended on a competitive bid
8basis and shall be subject to the Public Contract Code.
9(m) (1) If at any time the director determines that this section
10or any part of this section may jeopardize the state’s ability to
11receive federal financial participation under the federal Patient
12Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), or any
13amendment or extension of that act, or any additional federal funds
14that the director, in consultation with the Department of Finance,
15determines would be advantageous to the state, the director shall
16give notice to the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature
17and to the Department of Finance. After giving notice, this section
18or any part of this section shall become inoperative on the date
19that the director executes a declaration stating that the department
20has determined, in consultation with the Department of
Finance,
21that it is necessary to cease to implement this section or a part or
22parts thereof, in order to receive federal financial participation,
23any increase in the federal medical assistance percentage available
24on or after October 1, 2008, or any additional federal funds that
25the director, in consultation with the Department of Finance, has
26determined would be advantageous to the state.
27(2) The director shall retain the declaration described in
28paragraph (1), shall provide a copy of the declaration to the
29Secretary ofbegin delete theend delete State, the Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk
30of the Assembly, and the Legislative Counsel, and shall post the
31declaration on the department’s Internet Web site.
32(3) In the event that the director makes a determination under
33paragraph (1) and this section ceases to be
implemented, the
34children shall be enrolled back into the Healthy Families Program.
Section 14005.27 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
36 is amended to read:
(a) Individuals enrolled in the Healthy Families
38Program pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693)
39of Division 2 of the Insurance Code on June 27, 2012, and who
40are determined eligible to receive benefits pursuant tobegin delete subdivisions begin insert subdivision (a) of Section 14005.26, or, effective January
P10 1(a) orend delete
21, 2014, subdivisionend insert (b) of Section 14005.26, shall be transitioned
3into Medi-Cal, pursuant to this section.
4(b) To the extent necessary and for the purposes of carrying out
5the provisions of this section, in performing initial eligibility
6determinations for children
enrolled in the Healthy Families
7Program pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693)
8of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, the department shall adopt
9the option pursuant to Section 1902(e)(13) of the federal Social
10Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(e)(13)) to allow the department
11or county human services departments to rely upon findings made
12by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB)
13regarding one or more components of eligibility. The department
14shall seek federal approval of a state plan amendment to implement
15this subdivision.
16(c) To the extent necessary, the department shall seek federal
17approval of a state plan amendment or a waiver to provide
18presumptive eligibility for the optional targeted low-income
19category of eligibility pursuant to Section 14005.26 for individuals
20presumptively eligible for or enrolled in the Healthy Families
21Program pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693)
22of Division 2 of the
Insurance Code. The presumptive eligibility
23shall be based upon the most recent information contained in the
24individual’s Healthy Families Program file. The timeframe for the
25presumptive eligibility shall begin no sooner than January 1, 2013,
26and shall continue until a determination of Medi-Cal eligibility is
27made, which determination shall be performed within one year of
28the individual’s Healthy Families Program annual review date.
29(d) (1) The California Health and Human Services Agency, in
30consultation with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, the
31State Department of Health Care Services, the Department of
32Managed Health Care, and diverse stakeholders groups, shall
33provide the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature with
34a strategic plan for the transition of the Healthy Families Program
35pursuant to this section by no later than October 1, 2012. This
36strategic plan shall, at a minimum, address all of the
following:
37(A) State, county, and local administrative components which
38facilitate a successful subscriber transition such as communication
39and outreach to subscribers and applicants, eligibility processing,
40enrollment, communication, and linkage with health plan providers,
P11 1payments of applicable premiums, and overall systems operation
2functions.
3(B) Methods and processes for diverse stakeholder engagement
4throughout the entire transition, including all phases of the
5transition.
6(C) State monitoring of managed care health plans’ performance
7and accountability for provision of services, and initial quality
8indicators for children and adolescents transitioning to Medi-Cal.
9(D) Health care and dental delivery system components such
10as standards for
informing and enrollment materials, network
11adequacy, performance measures and metrics, fiscal solvency, and
12related factors that ensure timely access to quality health and dental
13care for children and adolescents transitioning to Medi-Cal.
14(E) Inclusion of applicable operational steps, timelines, and key
15milestones.
16(F) A time certain for the transfer of the Healthy Families
17Advisory Board, as described in Part 6.2 (commencing with Section
1812693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, to the State
19Department of Health Care Services.
20(2) The intent of this strategic plan is to serve as an overall guide
21for the development of each plan for each phase of this transition,
22pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (8), inclusive, of subdivision (e), to
23ensure clarity and consistency in approach and subscriber
24continuity of care. This
strategic plan may also be updated by the
25California Health and Human Services Agency as applicable and
26provided to the Legislature upon completion.
27(e) (1) The department shall transition individuals from the
28Healthy Families Program to the Medi-Cal program in four phases,
29as follows:
30(A) Phase 1. Individuals enrolled in a Healthy Families Program
31health plan that is a Medi-Cal managed care health plan shall be
32enrolled in the same plan no earlier than January 1, 2013, pursuant
33to the requirements of this section and Section 14011.6, and to the
34extent the individual is otherwise eligible under this chapter and
35Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200).
36(B) Phase 2. Individuals enrolled in a Healthy Families Program
37managed care health plan that is a subcontractor of a Medi-Cal
38managed health
care plan, to the extent possible, shall be enrolled
39into a Medi-Cal managed health care plan that includes the
40individuals’ current plan pursuant to the requirements of this
P12 1section and Section 14011.6, and to the extent the individuals are
2otherwise eligible under this chapter and Chapter 8 (commencing
3with Section 14200). The transition of individuals described in
4this subparagraph shall begin no earlier than April 1, 2013.
5(C) Phase 3. Individuals enrolled in a Healthy Families Program
6plan that is not a Medi-Cal managed care plan and does not contract
7or subcontract with a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall be enrolled
8in a Medi-Cal managed care plan in that county. Enrollment shall
9include consideration of the individuals’ primary care providers
10pursuant to the requirements of this section and Section 14011.6,
11and to the extent the individuals are otherwise eligible under this
12chapter and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200). The
13
transition of individuals described in this subparagraph shall begin
14no earlier than August 1, 2013.
15(D) Phase 4.
16(i) Individuals residing in a county that is not a Medi-Cal
17managed care county shall be provided services under the Medi-Cal
18fee-for-service delivery system, subject to clause (ii). The transition
19of individuals described in this subparagraph shall begin no earlier
20than September 1, 2013.
21(ii) In the event the department creates a managed health care
22system in the counties described in clause (i), individuals residing
23in those counties shall be enrolled in managed health care plans
24pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section
2514200).
26(2) For the transition of individuals pursuant to subparagraphs
27(A), (B), (C), and (D) of
paragraph (1), implementation plans shall
28be developed to ensure state and county systems readiness, health
29plan network adequacy, and continuity of care with the goal of
30ensuring there is no disruption of service and there is continued
31access to coverage for all transitioning individuals. If an individual
32is not retained with his or her current primary care provider, the
33implementation plan shall require the managed care plan to report
34to the department as to how continuity of care is being provided.
35Transition of individuals described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C),
36and (D) of paragraph (1) shall not occur until 90 days after the
37department has submitted an implementation plan to the fiscal and
38policy committees of the Legislature. The implementation plans
39shall include, but not be limited to, information on health and
40dental plan network adequacy, continuity of care, eligibility and
P13 1enrollment requirements, consumer protections, and family
2notifications.
3(3) The following requirements shall be in place prior to
4implementation of Phase 1, and shall be required for all phases of
5the transition:
6(A) Managed care plan performance measures shall be integrated
7and coordinated with the Healthy Families Program performance
8standards including, but not limited to, child-only Healthcare
9Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures, and
10measures indicative of performance in serving children and
11adolescents. These performance measures shall also be in
12compliance with all performance requirements under the
13Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2
14(commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and
15Safety Code) and existing Medi-Cal managed care performance
16measurements and standards as set forth in this chapter and Chapter
178 (commencing with Section 14200) of Title 22 of the California
18Code of Regulations, and all-plan letters, including, but not
limited
19to, network adequacy and linguistic services, and shall be met prior
20to the transition of individuals pursuant to Phase 1.
21(B) Medi-Cal managed care health plans shall allow enrollees
22to remain with their current primary care provider. If an individual
23does not remain with the current primary care provider, the plan
24shall report to the department as to how continuity of care is being
25provided.
26(4) (A) As individuals are transitioned pursuant to
27subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1), for
28individuals residing in all counties except the Counties of
29Sacramento and Los Angeles, their dental coverage shall transition
30to fee-for-service dental coverage and may be provided by their
31current provider if the provider is a Medi-Cal fee-for-service dental
32provider.
33(B) For individuals
residing in the County of Sacramento, their
34dental coverage shall continue to be provided by their current
35dental managed care plan if their plan is a Medi-Cal dental
36managed care plan. If their plan is not a Medi-Cal dental managed
37care plan, they shall select a Medi-Cal dental managed care plan.
38If they do not choose a Medi-Cal dental managed care plan, they
39shall be assigned to a plan with preference to a plan with which
40their current provider is a contracted provider. Any children in the
P14 1Healthy Families Program transitioned into Medi-Cal dental
2managed care plans shall also have access to the beneficiary dental
3exception process, pursuant to Section 14089.09. Further, the
4Sacramento advisory committee, established pursuant to Section
514089.08, shall be consulted regarding the transition of children
6in the Healthy Families Program into Medi-Cal dental managed
7care plans.
8(C) (i) For individuals residing in the County
of Los Angeles,
9for purposes of continuity of care, their dental coverage shall
10continue to be provided by their current dental managed care plan
11if that plan is a Medi-Cal dental managed care plan. If their plan
12is not a Medi-Cal dental managed care plan, they may select a
13Medi-Cal dental managed care plan or choose to move into
14Medi-Cal fee-for-service dental coverage.
15(ii) It is the intent of the Legislature that children transitioning
16to Medi-Cal under this section have a choice in dental coverage,
17as provided under existing law.
18(5) Dental health plan performance measures and benchmarks
19shall be in accordance with Section 14459.6.
20(6) Medi-Cal managed care health and dental plans shall report
21to the department, as frequently as specified by the department,
22specified information pertaining to transition
implementation,
23enrollees, and providers, including, but not limited to, grievances
24related to access to care, continuity of care requests and outcomes,
25and changes to provider networks, including provider enrollment
26and disenrollment changes. The plans shall report this information
27by county, and in the format requested by the department.
28(7) The department may develop supplemental implementation
29plans to separately account for the transition of individuals from
30the Healthy Families Program to specific Medi-Cal delivery
31systems.
32(8) The department shall consult with the Legislature and
33stakeholders, including, but not limited to, consumers, families,
34consumer advocates, counties, providers, and health and dental
35plans, in the development of implementation plans described in
36paragraph (3) for individuals who are transitioned to Medi-Cal in
37Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4, as
described in subparagraphs (B),
38(C), and (D) of paragraph (1).
39(9) (A) The department shall consult and collaborate with the
40Department of Managed Health Care in assessing Medi-Cal
P15 1managed care health plan network adequacy in accordance with
2the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter
32.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health
4and Safety Code) for purposes of the developed transition plans
5pursuant to paragraph (2) for each of the phases.
6(B) For purposes of individuals transitioning in Phase 1, as
7described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), network adequacy
8shall be assessed as described in this paragraph and findings from
9this assessment shall be provided to the fiscal and appropriate
10policy committees of the Legislature 60 days prior to the effective
11date of implementing this transition.
12(10) The department shall provide monthly status reports to the
13fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature on the transition
14commencing no later than February 15, 2013. This monthly status
15transition report shall include, but not be limited to, information
16on health plan grievances related to access to care, continuity of
17care requests and outcomes, changes to provider networks,
18including provider enrollment and disenrollment changes, and
19eligibility performance standards pursuant to subdivision (n). A
20final comprehensive report shall be provided within 90 days after
21completion of the last phase of transition.
22(f) (1) The department and MRMIB shall work collaboratively
23in the development of notices for individuals transitioned pursuant
24to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e).
25(2) The state shall
provide written notice to individuals enrolled
26in the Healthy Families Program of their transition to the Medi-Cal
27program at least 60 days prior to the transition of individuals in
28Phase 1, as described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of
29subdivision (e), and at least 90 days prior to transition of
30individuals in Phases 2, 3, and 4, as described in subparagraphs
31(B), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e).
32(3) Notices developed pursuant to this subdivision shall ensure
33individuals are informed regarding the transition, including, but
34not limited to, how individuals’ systems of care may change, when
35the changes will occur, and whom they can contact for assistance
36when choosing a Medi-Cal managed care plan, if applicable,
37including a toll-free telephone number, and with problems they
38may encounter. The department shall consult with stakeholders
39regarding notices developed pursuant to this subdivision. These
40notices shall be
developed using plain language, and written
P16 1translation of the notices shall be available for those who are
2limited English proficient or non-English speaking in all Medi-Cal
3threshold languages.
4(4) The department shall designate department liaisons
5responsible for the coordination of the Healthy Families Program
6and may establish a children’s-focused section for this purpose
7and to facilitate the provision of health care services for children
8enrolled in Medi-Cal.
9(5) The department shall provide a process for ongoing
10stakeholder consultation and make information publicly available,
11including the achievement of benchmarks, enrollment data,
12utilization data, and quality measures.
13(g) (1) In order to aid the transition of Healthy Families Program
14enrollees, MRMIB, on the effective date of the
act that added this
15section and continuing through the completion of the transition of
16Healthy Families Program enrollees to the Medi-Cal program,
17shall begin requesting and collecting from health plans contracting
18with MRMIB pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section
1912693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, information about
20each health plan’s provider network, including, but not limited to,
21the primary care and all specialty care providers assigned to
22individuals enrolled in the health plan. MRMIB shall obtain this
23information in a manner that coincides with the transition activities
24described in subdivision (d), and shall provide all of the collected
25information to the department within 60 days of the department’s
26request for this information to ensure timely transitions of Healthy
27begin delete Familyend deletebegin insert
Familiesend insert Program enrollees.
28(2) The department shall analyze the existing Healthy Families
29Program delivery system network and the Medi-Cal fee-for-service
30provider networks, including, but not limited to, Medi-Cal dental
31providers, to determine overlaps of the provider networks in each
32county for which there are no Medi-Cal managed care plans or
33dental managed care plans. To the extent there is a lack of existing
34Medi-Cal fee-for-service providers available to serve the Healthy
35Families Program enrollees, the department shall work with the
36Healthy Families Program provider community to encourage
37participation of those providers in the Medi-Cal program, and
38develop a streamlined process to enroll them as Medi-Cal
39providers.
P17 1(3) (A) MRMIB, within 60 days of a request by the department,
2shall provide the department any
data, information, or record
3concerning the Healthy Families Program as is necessary to
4implement the transition of enrollment required pursuant to this
5section.
6(B) Notwithstanding any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete law, all of the
7following shall apply:
8(i) The term “data, information, or record” shall include, but is
9not limited to, personal information as defined in Section 1798.3
10of the Civil Code.
11(ii) Any data, information, or record shall be exempt from
12disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5
13(commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the
14Government Code) and any other law, to the same extent that it
15was exempt from disclosure or privileged prior to the provision
16of the data, information, or record
to the department.
17(iii) The provision of any such data, information, or record to
18the department shall not constitute a waiver of any evidentiary
19privilege or exemption from disclosure.
20(iv) The department shall keep all data, information, or records
21provided by MRMIB confidential to the full extent permitted by
22law, including, but not limited to, the California Public Records
23Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7
24of Title 1 of the Government Code), and consistent with MRMIB’s
25contractual obligations to keep the data, information, or records
26confidential.
27(h) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that all
28necessary federal approvals and waivers have been obtained and
29the enhanced rate of federal financial participation under Title XXI
30of the federal Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1397aa et seq.)
31is available for targeted low-income children pursuant to that act.
32(i) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the
33department shall exercise the option pursuant to Section 1916A
34of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396o-1) to
35impose premiums for individuals described in subdivision (a)begin delete or of Section 14005.26 whose family income has been determined
36(b)end delete
37to be above 150 percent and up to and including 200 percent of
38the federal povertybegin delete level.end deletebegin insert level, after application of the income
39disregard pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section
4014005.26.end insert The department shall not
impose premiums under this
P18 1subdivision for individuals described in subdivision (a)begin delete or (b)end delete of
2Section 14005.26 whose family income has been determined to
3be at or below 150 percent of the federal povertybegin delete level.end deletebegin insert level, after
4application of the income disregard pursuant to paragraph (2) of
5subdivision (a) of Section 14005.26.end insert
The department shall obtain
6federal approval for the implementation of this subdivision.
7(B) Effective January 1, 2014, the family income range for the
8imposition of premiums pursuant to subparagraph (A)begin insert for
9individuals described in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 14005.26end insert
10 shall be above 160 percent and shall go up to and include 261
11percent of the federal poverty level as determined, counted, and
12valued in accordance with the requirements of Section 14005.64.
13The department shall not impose premiums for eligible individuals
14whose family income has been determined to be at or below 160
15percent of the federal poverty level.
16(2) All premiums imposed under this section shall equal the
17family contributions described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d)
18of Section
12693.43 of the Insurance Code and shall be reduced
19in conformity with subdivisions (e) and (f) of Section 12693.43
20of the Insurance Code.
21(j) The department shall not enroll targeted low-income children
22described in this section in the Medi-Cal program until all
23necessary federal approvals and waivers have been obtained, or
24no sooner than January 1, 2013.
25(k) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to the
26extent the new budget methodology pursuant to paragraph (6) of
27subdivision (a) of Section 14154 is not fully operational, for the
28purposes of implementing this section, for individuals described
29in subdivision (a) whose family income has been determined to
30be at or below 150 percent of the federal povertybegin delete level,end deletebegin insert
level, after
31application of the disregard pursuant to paragraph (2) of
32subdivision (a) of Section 14005.26,end insert the department shall utilize
33the budgeting methodology for this population as contained in the
34November 2011 Medi-Cal Local Assistance Estimate for Medi-Cal
35county administration costs for eligibility operations.
36(B) Effective January 1, 2014, the federal poverty level
37percentage used under subparagraph (A)begin insert for individuals described
38in subdivision (a)end insert shall equal 160 percent of the federal poverty
39level as determined, counted, and valued in accordance with the
40requirements of Section 14005.64.
P19 1(2) (A) begin deleteFor end deletebegin insertExcept
as provided in subparagraph (B), for end insert
2purposes of implementing this section, the department shall include
3in the Medi-Cal Local Assistance Estimate an amount for Medi-Cal
4eligibility operations associated with the transfer of Healthy
5Families Program enrollees eligible pursuant to subdivision (a) of
6Section 14005.26 and whose family income is determined to be
7abovebegin delete 160end deletebegin insert 150end insert
percent and up to and includingbegin delete 261end deletebegin insert 200end insert percent
8of the federal povertybegin delete level.end deletebegin insert
level, after application of the income
9disregard pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section
1014005.26.end insert In developing an estimate for this activity, the
11department shall consider the projected number of final eligibility
12determinations each county will process and projected county
13costs. Within 60 days of the passage of the annual Budget Act, the
14department shall notify each county of their allocation for this
15activity based upon the amount allotted in the annual Budget Act
16for this purpose.
17(B) Effective January 1, 2014, for purposes of implementing
18this section, the department shall include in the Medi-Cal Local
19Assistance Estimate an amount for Medi-Cal eligibility operations
20associated with the transfer of Healthy Families Program enrollees
21eligible pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 14005.26 and
22
whose family income is determined to be above 160 percent and
23up to and including 261 percent of the federal poverty level.
24(l) When the new budget methodology pursuant to paragraph
25(6) of subdivision (a) of Section 14154 is fully operational, the
26new budget methodology shall be utilized to reimburse counties
27for eligibility determinations made for individuals pursuant to this
28section.
29(m) Except as provided in subdivision (b), eligibility
30determinations and annual redeterminations made pursuant to this
31section shall be performed by county eligibility workers.
32(n) In conducting the eligibility determinations for individuals
33pursuant to this section and Section 14005.26, the following
34reporting and performance standards shall apply to all counties:
35(1) Counties shall report to the department, in a manner and for
36a time period determined by the department, in consultation with
37the County Welfare Directors Association, the number of
38applications processed on a monthly basis, a breakout of the
39applications based on income using the federal percentage of
40poverty levels, the final disposition of each application, including
P20 1information on the approved Medi-Cal program, if applicable, and
2the average number of days it took to make the final eligibility
3determination for applications submitted directly to the county and
4from the single point of entry (SPE).
5(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the following performance
6standards shall be applied to counties for eligibility determinations
7for individuals eligible pursuant to this section:
8(A) For children whose applications are
received by the county
9human services department from the SPE, the following standards
10shall apply:
11(i) Applications for children who are granted accelerated
12enrollment by the SPE shall be processed according to the
13timeframes specified in subdivision (d) of Section 14154.
14(ii) Applications for children who are not granted accelerated
15enrollment by the SPE due to the existence of an already active
16Medi-Cal case shall be processed according to the timeframes
17specified in subdivision (d) of Section 14154.
18(iii) For applications for children who are not described in clause
19(i) or (ii), 90 percent shall be processed within 10 working days
20of being received, complete and without client errors.
21(iv) If an application described in this section also contains
22
adults, and the adult applicants are required to submit additional
23information beyond the information provided for the children, the
24county shall process the eligibility for the child or children without
25delay, consistent with this section while gathering the necessary
26information to process eligibility for the adults.
27(B) The department, in consultation with the County Welfare
28Directors Association, shall develop reporting requirements for
29the counties to provide regular data to the state regarding the
30timeliness and outcomes of applications processed by the counties
31that are received from the SPE.
32(C) Performance thresholds and corrective action standards as
33set forth in Section 14154 shall apply.
34(D) For applications received directly by the county, these
35applications shall be processed by the counties in
accordance with
36the performance standards established under subdivision (d) of
37Section 14154.
38(3) This subdivision shall be implemented no sooner than
39January 1, 2013.
P21 1(4) Twelve months after implementation of this section pursuant
2to subdivision (e), the department shall provide enrollment
3information regarding individuals determined eligible pursuant to
4subdivision (a) to the fiscal and appropriate policy committees of
5the Legislature.
6(o) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
711340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
8for purposes of this transition, the department, without taking any
9further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, or make
10specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters,
11plan or provider bulletins, or similar
instructions until the time
12regulations are adopted. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
13department be allowed temporary authority as necessary to
14implement program changes until completion of the regulatory
15process.
16(2) To the extent otherwise required by Chapter 3.5
17(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
182 of the Government Code, the department shall adopt emergency
19regulations implementing this section no later than July 1, 2014.
20The department may thereafter readopt the emergency regulations
21pursuant to that chapter. The adoption and readoption, by the
22department, of regulations implementing this section shall be
23deemed to be an emergency and necessary to avoid serious harm
24to the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare for purposes
25of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and
26the department is hereby exempted from the requirement that it
27describe facts showing the need for
immediate action and from
28review by the Office of Administrative Law.
29(p) To implement this section, the department may enter into
30and continue contracts with the Healthy Families Program
31administrative vendor, for the purposes of implementing and
32maintaining the necessary systems and activities for providing
33health care coverage to optional targeted low-income children in
34the Medi-Cal program for purposes of accelerated enrollment
35application processing by single point of entry,
36noneligibility-related case maintenance and premium collection,
37maintenance of the Health-E-App Web portal, call center staffing
38and operations, certified application assistant services, and
39reporting capabilities. To further implement this section, the
40department may also enter into a contract with the Health Care
P22 1Options Broker of the department for purposes of managed care
2enrollment activities. The contracts entered into or amended under
3this section may initially
be completed on a noncompetitive bid
4basis and are exempt from the Public Contract Code. Contracts
5thereafter shall be entered into or amended on a competitive bid
6basis and shall be subject to the Public Contract Code.
7(q) (1) If at any time the director determines that this section
8or any part of this section may jeopardize the state’s ability to
9receive federal financial participation under the federal Patient
10Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), or any
11amendment or extension of that act, or any additional federal funds
12that the director, in consultation with the Department of Finance,
13determines would be advantageous to the state, the director shall
14give notice to the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature
15and to the Department of Finance. After giving notice, this section
16or any part of this section shall become inoperative on the date
17that the director executes a declaration stating that
the department
18has determined, in consultation with the Department of Finance,
19that it is necessary to cease to implement this section or a part or
20parts thereof in order to receive federal financial participation, any
21increase in the federal medical assistance percentage available on
22or after October 1, 2008, or any additional federal funds that the
23director, in consultation with the Department of Finance, has
24determined would be advantageous to the state.
25(2) The director shall retain the declaration described in
26paragraph (1), shall provide a copy of the declaration to the
27Secretary ofbegin delete theend delete
State, the Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk
28of the Assembly, and the Legislative Counsel, and shall post the
29declaration on the department’s Internet Web site.
30(3) In the event that the director makes a determination under
31paragraph (1) and this section ceases to be implemented, the
32children shall be enrolled back into the Healthy Families Program.
Section 14005.28 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
34 is amended to read:
(a) To the extent federal financial participation is
36available pursuant to an approved state plan amendment, the
37department shall implement Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of the
38federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX))
39to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual until his or her 26th
40birthday if he or she was in foster care on his or her 18th birthday
P23 1orbegin delete lost his or her eligibility for foster care assistance due to having begin insert such higher age at
2reached the maximum age for that assistance.end delete
3which the state’s or tribe’s foster care assistance ends under Title
4IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.).end insert
5
In addition, the department shall implement the federal option to
6provide Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who were in foster care
7and enrolled in Medicaid in any state.
8(1) A foster care adolescent who was in foster care in this state
9on his or her 18th birthday, orbegin delete who has lost his or her eligibility begin insert such higher age at which the
10for foster care assistance in this state due to having reached the
11maximum age for that assistance,end delete
12state’s or tribe’send insertbegin insert foster care assistance ends under Title IV-E of
13the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.),end insert shall
14be enrolled to receive benefits under this section without any
15interruption in coverage
and without requiring a new application.
16(2) The department shall develop procedures to identify and
17enroll individuals who meet the criteria for Medi-Cal eligibility
18in this subdivision, including, but not limited to, former foster care
19adolescents who were in foster care on their 18th birthday and who
20lost Medi-Cal coverage as a result of attaining 21 years of age.
21The department shall work with counties to identify and conduct
22outreach to former foster care adolescents who lost Medi-Cal
23coverage during the 2013 calendar year as a result of attaining 21
24years of age, to ensure they are aware of the ability to reenroll
25under the coverage provided pursuant to this section.
26(3) (A) The department shall develop and implement a
27simplified redetermination form for this program. A beneficiary
28qualifying for the benefits extended pursuant to this section shall
29fill
out and return this form only if information known to the
30department is no longer accurate or is materially incomplete.
31(B) The department shall seek federal approval to institute a
32renewal process that allows a beneficiary receiving benefits under
33this section to remain on Medi-Cal after a redetermination form
34is returned as undeliverable and the county is otherwise unable to
35establish contact. If federal approval is granted, the recipient shall
36remain eligible for services under the Medi-Cal fee-for-service
37program until the time contact is reestablished or ineligibility is
38established, and to the extent federal financial participation is
39available.
P24 1(C) The department shall terminate eligibility only after it
2determines that the recipient is no longer eligible and all due
3process requirements are met in accordance with state and federal
4law.
5(b) If future federal regulations or guidance permit Medi-Cal
6benefits to be provided under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of the
7federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX))
8to individuals who left foster care before reaching the age at which
9the state’s or tribe’s foster care assistance ends under Title IV-E
10of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et. seq.),
11then the department shall implement this section in accordance
12with those regulations or guidance.
13(b)
end delete
14begin insert(end insertbegin insertc)end insert Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
1511340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
16the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this
17section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider
18bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary
19regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations
20by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter
213.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
22Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the
23effective date of this section, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5
24of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status
25report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with
26Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been
27adopted.
28(c)
end delete
29begin insert(end insertbegin insertd)end insert This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent
30that federal financial participation is available.
31(d) This section shall become operative January 1, 2014.
end deleteSection 14005.285 is added to the Welfare and
33Institutions Code, to read:
(a) To the extent federal financial participation is
35available pursuant to an approved state plan amendment, the
36department shall exercise its option under Section
371902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XVII) of the federal Social Security Act (42
38U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XVII)) to extend Medi-Cal benefits
39to independent foster care adolescents, as defined in Section
P25 11905(w)(1) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
21396d(w)(1)).
3(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
411340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
5the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this
6section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider
7bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any
necessary
8regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations
9by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter
103.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
11Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the
12effective date of this section, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5
13of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status
14report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with
15Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been
16adopted.
17(c) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that
18federal financial participation is available and any necessary federal
19approvals have been obtained.
begin insertSection 14005.287 is added to the end insertbegin insertWelfare and
21Institutions Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert
(a) To the extent federal financial participation is
23available pursuant to an approved state plan amendment, the
24department shall exercise its option under Section
251902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
26Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I)) to extend Medi-Cal benefits to
27individuals under 21 years of age placed in foster homes or private
28institutions for whom a public agency is assuming full or partial
29financial responsibility.
30(b) Pursuant to Section 1902(r)(2) of the federal Social Security
31Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(r)(2)), all of the income considered
32when determining an individual’s eligibility under this section
33shall be disregarded.
34(c) Notwithstanding
Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
3511340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
36the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this
37section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider
38bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary
39regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations
40by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter
P26 13.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
2Title 2 of the Government Code.
3(d) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that
4federal financial participation is available and any necessary
5federal approvals have been obtained.
begin insertSection 14005.288 is added to the end insertbegin insertWelfare and
7Institutions Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert
(a) To the extent federal financial participation is
9available pursuant to an approved state plan amendment, the
10department shall exercise its option under Section
111902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VIII) of the federal Social Security Act (42
12U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VIII)) to extend Medi-Cal benefits
13to individuals under 21 years of age for whom an adoption
14agreement, other than an agreement under Title IV-E of the federal
15Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 671 et seq.), between the state
16and the adoptive parent or parents is in effect.
17(b) Pursuant to Section 1902(r)(2) of the federal Social Security
18Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(r)(2)), all of the income considered
19when determining an individual’s eligibility under this section
20shall be
disregarded.
21(c) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
2211340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
23the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this
24section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider
25bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary
26regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations
27by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter
283.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
29Title 2 of the Government Code.
30(d) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that
31federal financial participation is available and any necessary
32federal approvals have been obtained.
Section 14005.30 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
35 is amended to read:
(a) Medi-Cal benefits under this chapter shall be
37provided to individuals eligible for services under Section 1396u-1
38of Title 42 of the United States Code with family incomes that do
39not exceed 109 percent of the federal poverty level.
P27 1(b) (1) When determining eligibility under this section, an
2applicant’s or beneficiary’s income and resources shall be
3determined, counted, and valued in accordance with the
4requirements of Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United
5States Code, as added by the ACA.
6(2) When determining eligibility under this section, an
7applicant’s or beneficiary’s assets shall not be considered and
8deprivation shall not be a requirement for
eligibility.
9(c) For purposes of calculating income under this section during
10any calendar year, increases in social security benefit payments
11under Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.
12401 et seq.) arising from cost-of-living adjustments shall be
13disregarded commencing in the month that these social security
14benefit payments are increased by the cost-of-living adjustment
15through the month before the month in which a change in the
16federal poverty level requires the department to modify the income
17disregard pursuant to subdivision (c) and in which new income
18limits for the program established by this section are adopted by
19the department.
20(d) The MAGI-based income eligibility standard applied under
21this section shall conform with the maintenance of effort
22requirements of Sections 1396a(e)(14) and 1396a(gg) of Title 42
23of the United States Code, as added by
the ACA.
24(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall
25apply:
26(1) “ACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable
27Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as originally enacted and as
28amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation
29Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent
30amendments.
31(2) “MAGI-based income” means income calculated using the
32financial methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title
3342 of the United States Code, as added by the federal Patient
34Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) and as
35amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation
36Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent
37amendments.
38(f) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
Section
3911340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
40the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this
P28 1section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider
2bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary
3regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations
4by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter
53.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
6Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the
7effective date of this section, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5
8of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status
9report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with
10Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been
11adopted.
12(g) This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent
13that federal financial participation is available and any necessary
14federal approvals have been
obtained.
15(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.
end deleteSection 14005.64 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
18 is amended to read:
(a) Effective January 1, 2014, and notwithstanding
20any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete law, when determining eligibility for
21Medi-Cal benefits, an applicant’s or beneficiary’s income and
22resources shall be determined, counted, and valued in accordance
23with the requirements of Section 1902(e)(14) of the federal Social
24Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(e)(14)), as added by the ACA,
25which prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals
26whose income eligibility is determined based on modified adjusted
27gross income.
28(b) When determining the eligibility of applicants and
29beneficiaries using the MAGI-based financial methods, the
305-percent income disregard required under Section
31
1902(e)(14)(B)(I) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
32Sec. 1396a(e)(14)(B)(I)) shall be applied.
33(c) (1) The department shall establish income eligibility
34thresholds for those Medi-Cal eligibility groups whose eligibility
35will be determined using MAGI-based financial methods. The
36income eligibility thresholds shall be developed using the financial
37methodologies described in Section 1396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of
38the United States Code and in conformity with Section 1396a(gg)
39of Title 42 of the United States Code as added by the ACA.
P29 1(2) In utilizing state data or the national standard methodology
2with Survey of Income and Program Participation data to develop
3the converted modified adjusted gross income standard for
4Medi-Cal applicants and beneficiaries, the department shall ensure
5that the financial methodology used for identifying the equivalent
6
income eligibility threshold preserves Medi-Cal eligibility for
7applicants and beneficiaries to the extent required by federal law.
8The department shall report to the Legislature on the expected
9changes in income eligibility thresholds using the chosen
10methodology for individuals whose income is determined on the
11basis of a converted dollar amount or federal poverty level
12percentage. The department shall convene stakeholders, including
13the Legislature, counties, and consumer advocates regarding the
14results of the converted standards and shall review with them the
15information used for the specific calculations before adopting its
16final methodology for the equivalent income eligibility threshold
17level.
18(3) The income eligibility threshold levels required under this
19subdivision shall be as follows for the identified coverage groups:
20(A) For those pregnant women and infants eligible
under Section
211396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IV) of Title 42 of the United States Code, 208
22percent of the federal poverty level.
23(B) For those children one to five years of age, inclusive, eligible
24under Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VI) of Title 42 of the United
25States Code, 142 percent of the federal poverty level.
26(C) For those children 6 to 18 years of age, inclusive, eligible
27under Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VII) of Title 42 of the United
28States Code, 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
29(d) The department shall include individuals under 19 years of
30age, or in the case of full-time students, under 21 years of age, in
31the household for purposes of determining eligibility under Section
321396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, as added by
33the ACA.
34(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall
35apply:
36(1) “ACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable
37Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as originally enacted and as
38amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation
39Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) and any subsequent
40amendments.
P30 1(2) “MAGI-based financial methods” means income calculated
2using the financial methodologies described in Section
31396a(e)(14) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and as added
4by the ACA.
5(f) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
611340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
7the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall
8implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of
9all-county letters, plan letters, plan or
provider bulletins, or similar
10instructions until the time regulations are adopted. Thereafter, the
11department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the
12requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of
13Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning
14six months after the effective date of this section, and
15notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the
16department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a
17semiannual basis until regulations have been adopted.
18(g) This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent
19that federal financial participation is available and any necessary
20federal approvals have been obtained.
Section 14051 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
23 is amended to read:
(a) “Medically needy person” means any of the
25following:
26(1) An aged, blind, or disabled person who meets the definition
27of aged, blind, or disabled under the Supplemental Security Income
28program and whose income and resources are insufficient to
29provide for the costs of health care or coverage.
30(2) A child in foster care for whom public agencies are assuming
31financial responsibility, in whole or in part, or a person receiving
32aid under Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 16115) of Part
334.
34(3) A child who is eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits pursuant
35to interstate agreements for adoption
assistance and related services
36and benefits entered into under Chapter 2.6 (commencing with
37Section 16170) of Part 4, to the extent federal financial
38participation is available.
39(b) “Medically needy family person” means a parent or caretaker
40relative of a child or a child under 21 years of age or a pregnant
P31 1woman of any age with a confirmed pregnancy, exclusive of those
2persons specified in subdivision (a), whose income and resources
3are insufficient to provide for the costs of health care or coverage.
Section 14148 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
6 is amended to read:
(a) (1) (A) Except as provided inbegin delete paragraph (2),end delete
8begin insert subparagraph (B),end insert the department shall adopt the federal option
9provided under Section 4101 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
10Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-203) to extend eligibility for medical
11assistance under Medicaid to all pregnant women and infants with
12family incomes not in excess of 185 percent of the federal poverty
13level.
14(B) If a premium is imposed, the amount of the premium shall
15not exceed 10 percent of the amount by which the family’s income,
16less actual child care costs, exceeds 150 percent of the federal
17poverty level as provided in Section 1916(c) of the
federal Social
18Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396o(c)) as determined, counted,
19and valued in accordance with the requirements of Section
2014005.64. The department shall implement this section by
21emergency regulation.
22(2)
end delete
23begin insert(end insertbegin insertB)end insert Effective January 1, 2014, the federal poverty level
24percentage income eligibility threshold used pursuant to
25subdivision (c) of Section 14005.64 to determine eligibility for
26medical assistance under this section pursuant tobegin delete paragraph (1)end delete
27begin insert
subparagraph (A)end insert shall equal 208 percent of the federal poverty
28level.
29(2) If a premium is imposed, the amount of the premium shall
30not exceed 10 percent of the amount by which the family’s income,
31less actual child care costs, exceeds 150 percent of the federal
32poverty level as provided in Section 1916(c) of the federal Social
33Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396o(c)) as determined, counted,
34and valued in accordance with the requirements of Section
3514005.64. The department shall implement this section by
36emergency regulation.
37(b) Upon order of the Department of Finance, thebegin delete Stateend delete
38
Controller shall transfer funds from Item 4260-101-001 of the
39Budget Act of 1988 to Item 4260-111-001 of the Budget Act of
P32 11988 during the 1988-89 fiscal year for the purpose of funding
2outreach efforts for perinatal services.
3(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the state may limit
4implementation of this section during the 1988-89 fiscal year,
5based upon the availability of department funds. The department
6may use maternal and child health funds to finance the increased
7costs of implementing an expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility to
8women and children with incomes of up to 185 percent of federal
9poverty levels if both of the following conditions exist:
10(1) The department has allocated for expenditure at least sixteen
11million dollars ($16,000,000) in funds redirected from the Medi-Cal
12program for that expansion.
13(2) If, and to the extent, the department determines that estimates
14of costs based on actual data indicate that the funds are needed to
15cover costs.
16(d) To assist Medi-Cal eligible pregnant women in receiving
17prenatal care promptly, all pregnant women applying for Medi-Cal
18shall be determined to have an immediate need. Counties, within
19existing resources, shall expedite the eligibility determination
20process for all pregnant women on the basis of their immediate
21needs. Upon determination of eligibility, a Medi-Cal card shall be
22issued immediately.
23(e) begin deleteThis section end deletebegin insertThe amendments made to subdivision (a) by
24Senate Bill 508 during the 2013-14 Regular Session end insertshall
be
25implemented only if and to the extent that federal financial
26participation is available and any necessary federal approvals have
27been obtained.
Section 14148.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
30 is amended to read:
(a) begin delete(1)end deletebegin delete end deleteState funded perinatal services shall be
32provided under the Medi-Cal program to pregnant women and
33state funded medical services to infants up to one year of age in
34families with incomes above 185 percent, but not more than 208
35percent, of the federal poverty level, in the same manner that these
36services are being provided to the Medi-Cal population, including
37eligibility requirements and integration of eligibility determinations
38and payment of claims. When determining eligibility under this
39section, an applicant’s or beneficiary’s income and resources shall
P33 1be determined, counted, and valued in
accordance with the
2methodology set forth in Section 14005.64.
3(b) Services provided under this section shall not be subject to
4any share-of-cost requirements.
5(c) (1) The department, in implementing the Medi-Cal program
6and public health programs, in coordination with the Managed
7Risk Medical Insurancebegin delete Program’send deletebegin insert Board’send insert Access for Infants and
8Mothers component, may provide for outreach activities in order
9to enhance participation and access to perinatal services. Funding
10received pursuant to the federal provisions shall be used to expand
11perinatal outreach activities. These outreach activities shall be
12implemented if funding is provided for this purpose by an
13
appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other statute.
14(2) Those outreach activities authorized by paragraph (1) shall
15be targeted toward both Medi-Cal and non-Medi-Cal eligible high
16risk or uninsured pregnant women and infants. Outreach activities
17may include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
18(A) Education of the targeted women on the availability and
19importance of early prenatal care and referral to Medi-Cal and
20other programs.
21(B) Information provided through toll-free telephone numbers.
22(C) Recruitment and retention of perinatal providers.
23(d) Notwithstanding any otherbegin delete provision ofend delete law,
contracts
24required to implement the provisions of this section shall be exempt
25from the approval of the Director of General Services and from
26the provisions of the Public Contract Code.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
29this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
30local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
31pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
324 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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97