BILL NUMBER: AB 635	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Atkins

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 14146) to
Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Medi-Cal.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 635, as introduced, Atkins. Medical interpretation services.
   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 federal law provides for
increased administrative funding for translation and interpretation
services provided in connection with the enrollment, retention, and
use of services under the Medicaid program.
   This bill would require the department to seek federal funding to
establish a program to provide and reimburse for certified medical
interpretation services, except sign language interpretation
services, to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are limited English
proficient. The program would offer medical interpreter services to
Medi-Cal providers serving beneficiaries on either a fee-for-service
or managed care basis. This bill would specify the requirements for
medical interpreter services contracts between the state and health
care providers or entities. It would require the department to pursue
all available sources of federal funding and federal approvals
necessary to implement the bill. The bill also would require the
department to create a community advisory committee to advise on the
bill's implementation.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the
following:
   (a) Create a program to provide reliable access to language
interpretation for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are limited English
proficient.
   (b) Establish a mechanism for accessing federal Medicaid matching
funds to provide a majority of the funding for the program.
   (c) Enable trained interpreters to meet the demand for language
services for a significant portion of Medi-Cal beneficiaries with
limited English proficiency.
   (d) Facilitate accurate and timely communication between
limited-English-proficient patients and their health care providers,
which will improve quality of care, reduce medical errors, increase
patient understanding and compliance with health diagnoses and care
plans, and reduce the cost of health care by eliminating unnecessary
tests and other care.
  SEC. 2.  Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 14146) is added to
Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

      Article 4.6.  Medi-Cal Medical Interpretation Services


   14146.  (a) The department shall seek federal funding to establish
a program to provide and reimburse for certified medical
interpretation services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are limited
English proficient.
   (b) The program shall offer medical interpreter services to
Medi-Cal providers serving beneficiaries on either a fee-for-service
or managed care basis, pursuant to this chapter.
   (c) A health care provider or entity entering into a Medi-Cal
provider agreement or Medi-Cal managed care contract with the state,
including Medi-Cal managed care organizations (MMCOs) and their
subcontracting plans, and fee-for-service providers, may utilize the
program to provide medical interpreter services to Medi-Cal
beneficiaries.
   (d) All contracts between MMCOs and their subcontractors,
including health providers and other health plans, shall include
provisions describing access to medical interpreter services under
the program.
   (e) The department shall pursue all available sources of federal
funding to establish and administer the program and shall seek
federal approvals necessary to implement this article.
   (f) The department shall create a community advisory committee,
consisting of stakeholders and health care providers, to advise on
the implementation of this article.
   (g) This article shall not apply to sign language interpretation
services.