BILL NUMBER: AB 72	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Bonta and Atkins

                        DECEMBER 18, 2014

   An act to add Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184) to
Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Medi-Cal, and declaring the urgency thereof, to
take effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 72, as introduced, Bonta. Medi-Cal: demonstration project.
   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 provides for a
demonstration project under the Medi-Cal program until October 31,
2015, to implement specified objectives, including better care
coordination for seniors and persons with disabilities and
maximization of opportunities to reduce the number of uninsured
individuals.
   This bill would require the State Department of Health Care
Services to submit an application to the federal Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services for a waiver to implement a demonstration
project that, among other things, continues the state's momentum and
successes in innovation achieved under the demonstration project
described above. The bill would require the department to consult
with interested stakeholders and the Legislature in developing the
waiver application. The bill would provide that the department only
implement the waiver or demonstration project upon submittal of an
implementation plan to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees
of the Legislature at least 60 days prior to any appropriation.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184) is added to
Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

      Article 5.5.  Renewal of Health Care Coordination, Improvement,
and Long-Term Cost Containment Waiver or Demonstration Project


   14184.  (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) Furthers the delivery of high-quality and cost-efficient care
for Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
   (2) Ensures the long-term viability of the delivery system
following the expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility under the federal
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
   (3) Continues California's momentum and successes in innovation
achieved under the 2010 "Bridge to Reform" Waiver.
   (b) In developing the waiver application, the department shall
consult with interested stakeholders and the Legislature.
   (c) The department shall only implement the waiver or
demonstration project upon submittal of an implementation plan to the
appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature at least
60 days prior to any appropriation.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to make changes to state-funded health care programs at
the earliest possible time, it is necessary that this act take effect
immediately.