Amended in Senate September 4, 2015

Amended in Senate August 31, 2015

Amended in Senate July 1, 2015

Amended in Assembly May 28, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 21, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 858

Introduced by Assembly Member Wood

(Coauthor: Senator McGuire)

February 26, 2015

An act to amend Section 14132.100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 858, as amended, Wood. Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, pursuant to which medical benefits are provided to public assistance recipients and certain other low-income persons. Existing law provides that federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services, as defined, are covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program, to be reimbursed, to the extent that federal financial participation is obtained, to providers on a per-visit basis. “Visit” is defined as a face-to-face encounter between a patient of an FQHC or RHC and specified health care professionals. Existing law allows an FQHC or RHC to apply for an adjustment to its per-visit rate based on a change in the scope of services it provides.

This bill would also include a marriage and family therapist within those health care professionals covered under the definition of “visit.” The bill would require an FQHC or RHC that currently includes the cost of services of a marriage and family therapist for the purposes of establishing its FQHC or RHC rate to apply to the department for an adjustment to its per-visit rate, and, after the rate adjustment has been approved by the department, would require the FQHC or RHC to bill these services as a separate visit, as specified. The bill would require an FQHC or RHC that does not provide the services of a marriage and family therapist, and later elects to add these services, to process the addition of these services as a change in scope of service.

begin insert

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 14132.100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code made by this bill and SB 610 to take effect if both bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

end insert

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.  

Section 14132.100 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code is amended to read:

14132.100.  

(a) The federally qualified health center services
described in Section 1396d(a)(2)(C) of Title 42 of the United States
Code are covered benefits.

(b) The rural health clinic services described in Section
1396d(a)(2)(B) of Title 42 of the United States Code are covered
benefits.

(c) Federally qualified health center services and rural health
clinic services shall be reimbursed on a per-visit basis in
accordance with the definition of “visit” set forth in subdivision
(g).

(d) Effective October 1, 2004, and on each October 1, thereafter,
until no longer required by federal law, federally qualified health
center (FQHC) and rural health clinic (RHC) per-visit rates shall
be increased by the Medicare Economic Index applicable to
primary care services in the manner provided for in Section
1396a(bb)(3)(A) of Title 42 of the United States Code. Prior to
January 1, 2004, FQHC and RHC per-visit rates shall be adjusted
by the Medicare Economic Index in accordance with the
methodology set forth in the state plan in effect on October 1,
2001.

(e) (1) An FQHC or RHC may apply for an adjustment to its
per-visit rate based on a change in the scope of services provided
by the FQHC or RHC. Rate changes based on a change in the
scope of services provided by an FQHC or RHC shall be evaluated
in accordance with Medicare reasonable cost principles, as set
forth in Part 413 (commencing with Section 413.1) of Title 42 of
the Code of Federal Regulations, or its successor.

(2) Subject to the conditions set forth in subparagraphs (A) to
(D), inclusive, of paragraph (3), a change in scope of service means
any of the following:

(A) The addition of a new FQHC or RHC service that is not
incorporated in the baseline prospective payment system (PPS)
rate, or a deletion of an FQHC or RHC service that is incorporated
in the baseline PPS rate.

(B) A change in service due to amended regulatory requirements
or rules.

(C) A change in service resulting from relocating or remodeling
an FQHC or RHC.

(D) A change in types of services due to a change in applicable
technology and medical practice utilized by the center or clinic.

(E) An increase in service intensity attributable to changes in
the types of patients served, including, but not limited to,
populations with HIV or AIDS, or other chronic diseases, or
homeless, elderly, migrant, or other special populations.

(F) Any changes in any of the services described in subdivision
(a) or (b), or in the provider mix of an FQHC or RHC or one of
its sites.

(G) Changes in operating costs attributable to capital
expenditures associated with a modification of the scope of any
of the services described in subdivision (a) or (b), including new
or expanded service facilities, regulatory compliance, or changes
in technology or medical practices at the center or clinic.

(H) Indirect medical education adjustments and a direct graduate
medical education payment that reflects the costs of providing
teaching services to interns and residents.

(I) Any changes in the scope of a project approved by the federal
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

(3) No change in costs shall, in and of itself, be considered a
scope-of-service change unless all of the following apply:

(A) The increase or decrease in cost is attributable to an increase
or decrease in the scope of services defined in subdivisions (a) and
(b), as applicable.

(B) The cost is allowable under Medicare reasonable cost
principles set forth in Part 413 (commencing with Section 413) of
Subchapter B of Chapter 4 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, or its successor.

(C) The change in the scope of services is a change in the type,
intensity, duration, or amount of services, or any combination
thereof.

(D) The net change in the FQHC’s or RHC’s rate equals or
exceeds 1.75 percent for the affected FQHC or RHC site. For
FQHCs and RHCs that filed consolidated cost reports for multiple
sites to establish the initial prospective payment reimbursement
rate, the 1.75-percent threshold shall be applied to the average
per-visit rate of all sites for the purposes of calculating the cost
associated with a scope-of-service change. “Net change” means
the per-visit rate change attributable to the cumulative effect of all
increases and decreases for a particular fiscal year.

(4) An FQHC or RHC may submit requests for scope-of-service
changes once per fiscal year, only within 90 days following the
beginning of the FQHC’s or RHC’s fiscal year. Any approved
increase or decrease in the provider’s rate shall be retroactive to
the beginning of the FQHC’s or RHC’s fiscal year in which the
request is submitted.

(5) An FQHC or RHC shall submit a scope-of-service rate
change request within 90 days of the beginning of any FQHC or
RHC fiscal year occurring after the effective date of this section,
if, during the FQHC’s or RHC’s prior fiscal year, the FQHC or
RHC experienced a decrease in the scope of services provided that
the FQHC or RHC either knew or should have known would have
resulted in a significantly lower per-visit rate. If an FQHC or RHC
discontinues providing onsite pharmacy or dental services, it shall
submit a scope-of-service rate change request within 90 days of
the beginning of the following fiscal year. The rate change shall
be effective as provided for in paragraph (4). As used in this
paragraph, “significantly lower” means an average per-visit rate
decrease in excess of 2.5 percent.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (4), if the approved
scope-of-service change or changes were initially implemented
on or after the first day of an FQHC’s or RHC’s fiscal year ending
in calendar year 2001, but before the adoption and issuance of
written instructions for applying for a scope-of-service change,
the adjusted reimbursement rate for that scope-of-service change
shall be made retroactive to the date the scope-of-service change
was initially implemented. Scope-of-service changes under this
paragraph shall be required to be submitted within the later of 150
days after the adoption and issuance of the written instructions by
the department, or 150 days after the end of the FQHC’s or RHC’s
fiscal year ending in 2003.

(7) All references in this subdivision to “fiscal year” shall be
construed to be references to the fiscal year of the individual FQHC
or RHC, as the case may be.

(f) (1) An FQHC or RHC may request a supplemental payment
if extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the FQHC
or RHC occur after December 31, 2001, and PPS payments are
insufficient due to these extraordinary circumstances. Supplemental
payments arising from extraordinary circumstances under this
subdivision shall be solely and exclusively within the discretion
of the department and shall not be subject to subdivision (l). These
supplemental payments shall be determined separately from the
scope-of-service adjustments described in subdivision (e).
Extraordinary circumstances include, but are not limited to, acts
of nature, changes in applicable requirements in the Health and
Safety Code, changes in applicable licensure requirements, and
changes in applicable rules or regulations. Mere inflation of costs
alone, absent extraordinary circumstances, shall not be grounds
for supplemental payment. If an FQHC’s or RHC’s PPS rate is
sufficient to cover its overall costs, including those associated with
the extraordinary circumstances, then a supplemental payment is
not warranted.

(2) The department shall accept requests for supplemental
payment at any time throughout the prospective payment rate year.

(3) Requests for supplemental payments shall be submitted in
writing to the department and shall set forth the reasons for the
request. Each request shall be accompanied by sufficient
documentation to enable the department to act upon the request.
Documentation shall include the data necessary to demonstrate
that the circumstances for which supplemental payment is requested
meet the requirements set forth in this section. Documentation
shall include all of the following:

(A) A presentation of data to demonstrate reasons for the
FQHC’s or RHC’s request for a supplemental payment.

(B) Documentation showing the cost implications. The cost
impact shall be material and significant, two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000) or 1 percent of a facility’s total costs, whichever
is less.

(4) A request shall be submitted for each affected year.

(5) Amounts granted for supplemental payment requests shall
be paid as lump-sum amounts for those years and not as revised
PPS rates, and shall be repaid by the FQHC or RHC to the extent
that it is not expended for the specified purposes.

(6) The department shall notify the provider of the department’s
discretionary decision in writing.

(g) (1) An FQHC or RHC “visit” means a face-to-face
encounter between an FQHC or RHC patient and a physician,
physician assistant, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife,
clinical psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or a visiting
nurse. For purposes of this section, “physician” shall be interpreted
in a manner consistent with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services’ Medicare Rural Health Clinic and Federally Qualified
Health Center Manual (Publication 27), or its successor, only to
the extent that it defines the professionals whose services are
reimbursable on a per-visit basis and not as to the types of services
that these professionals may render during these visits and shall
include a medical doctor, osteopath, podiatrist, dentist, optometrist,
and chiropractor. A visit shall also include a face-to-face encounter
between an FQHC or RHC patient and a comprehensive perinatal
practitioner, as defined in Section 51179.7 of Title 22 of the
California Code of Regulations, providing comprehensive perinatal
services, a four-hour day of attendance at an adult day health care
center, and any other provider identified in the state plan’s
definition of an FQHC or RHC visit.

(2) (A) A visit shall also include a face-to-face encounter
between an FQHC or RHC patient and a dental hygienist, a dental
hygienist in alternative practice, or a marriage and family therapist.

(B) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), an FQHC or RHC that
currently includes the cost of the services of a dental hygienist in
alternative practice, or a marriage and family therapist, for the
purposes of establishing its FQHC or RHC rate shall apply for an
adjustment to its per-visit rate, and, after the rate adjustment has
been approved by the department, shall bill these services as a
separate visit. However, multiple encounters with dental
professionals or marriage and family therapists that take place on
the same day shall constitute a single visit. The department shall
develop the appropriate forms to determine which FQHC’s or
RHC’s rates shall be adjusted and to facilitate the calculation of
the adjusted rates. An FQHC’s or RHC’s application for, or the
department’s approval of, a rate adjustment pursuant to this
subparagraph shall not constitute a change in scope of service
within the meaning of subdivision (e). An FQHC or RHC that
applies for an adjustment to its rate pursuant to this subparagraph
may continue to bill for all other FQHC or RHC visits at its existing
per-visit rate, subject to reconciliation, until the rate adjustment
for visits between an FQHC or RHC patient and a dental hygienist,
a dental hygienist in alternative practice, or a marriage and family
therapist has been approved. Any approved increase or decrease
in the provider’s rate shall be made within six months after the
date of receipt of the department’s rate adjustment forms pursuant
to this subparagraph and shall be retroactive to the beginning of
the fiscal year in which the FQHC or RHC submits the request,
but in no case shall the effective date be earlier than January 1,
2008.

(C) An FQHC or RHC that does not provide dental hygienist,
dental hygienist in alternative practice, or marriage and family
therapist services, and later elects to add these services, shall
process the addition of these services as a change in scope of
service pursuant to subdivision (e).

(h) If FQHC or RHC services are partially reimbursed by a
third-party payer, such as a managed care entity (as defined in
Section 1396u-2(a)(1)(B) of Title 42 of the United States Code),
the Medicare program, or the Child Health and Disability
Prevention (CHDP) program, the department shall reimburse an
FQHC or RHC for the difference between its per-visit PPS rate
and receipts from other plans or programs on a contract-by-contract
basis and not in the aggregate, and may not include managed care
financial incentive payments that are required by federal law to
be excluded from the calculation.

(i) (1) An entity that first qualifies as an FQHC or RHC in the
year 2001 or later, a newly licensed facility at a new location added
to an existing FQHC or RHC, and any entity that is an existing
FQHC or RHC that is relocated to a new site shall each have its
reimbursement rate established in accordance with one of the
following methods, as selected by the FQHC or RHC:

(A) The rate may be calculated on a per-visit basis in an amount
that is equal to the average of the per-visit rates of three comparable
FQHCs or RHCs located in the same or adjacent area with a similar
caseload.

(B) In the absence of three comparable FQHCs or RHCs with
a similar caseload, the rate may be calculated on a per-visit basis
in an amount that is equal to the average of the per-visit rates of
three comparable FQHCs or RHCs located in the same or an
adjacent service area, or in a reasonably similar geographic area
with respect to relevant social, health care, and economic
characteristics.

(C) At a new entity’s one-time election, the department shall
establish a reimbursement rate, calculated on a per-visit basis, that
is equal to 100 percent of the projected allowable costs to the
FQHC or RHC of furnishing FQHC or RHC services during the
first 12 months of operation as an FQHC or RHC. After the first
12-month period, the projected per-visit rate shall be increased by
the Medicare Economic Index then in effect. The projected
allowable costs for the first 12 months shall be cost settled and the
prospective payment reimbursement rate shall be adjusted based
on actual and allowable cost per visit.

(D) The department may adopt any further and additional
methods of setting reimbursement rates for newly qualified FQHCs
or RHCs as are consistent with Section 1396a(bb)(4) of Title 42
of the United States Code.

(2) In order for an FQHC or RHC to establish the comparability
of its caseload for purposes of subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph
(1), the department shall require that the FQHC or RHC submit
its most recent annual utilization report as submitted to the Office
of Statewide Health Planning and Development, unless the FQHC
or RHC was not required to file an annual utilization report. FQHCs
or RHCs that have experienced changes in their services or
caseload subsequent to the filing of the annual utilization report
may submit to the department a completed report in the format
applicable to the prior calendar year. FQHCs or RHCs that have
not previously submitted an annual utilization report shall submit
to the department a completed report in the format applicable to
the prior calendar year. The FQHC or RHC shall not be required
to submit the annual utilization report for the comparable FQHCs
or RHCs to the department, but shall be required to identify the
comparable FQHCs or RHCs.

(3) The rate for any newly qualified entity set forth under this
subdivision shall be effective retroactively to the later of the date
that the entity was first qualified by the applicable federal agency
as an FQHC or RHC, the date a new facility at a new location was
added to an existing FQHC or RHC, or the date on which an
existing FQHC or RHC was relocated to a new site. The FQHC
or RHC shall be permitted to continue billing for Medi-Cal covered
benefits on a fee-for-service basis under its existing provider
number until it is informed of its FQHC or RHC enrollment
approval, and the department shall reconcile the difference between
the fee-for-service payments and the FQHC’s or RHC’s prospective
payment rate at that time.

(j) Visits occurring at an intermittent clinic site, as defined in
subdivision (h) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code, of
an existing FQHC or RHC, or in a mobile unit as defined by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1765.105 of the Health
and Safety Code, shall be billed by and reimbursed at the same
rate as the FQHC or RHC establishing the intermittent clinic site
or the mobile unit, subject to the right of the FQHC or RHC to
request a scope-of-service adjustment to the rate.

(k) An FQHC or RHC may elect to have pharmacy or dental
services reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis, utilizing the current
fee schedules established for those services. These costs shall be
adjusted out of the FQHC’s or RHC’s clinic base rate as
scope-of-service changes. An FQHC or RHC that reverses its
election under this subdivision shall revert to its prior rate, subject
to an increase to account for all Medicare Economic Index
increases occurring during the intervening time period, and subject
to any increase or decrease associated with applicable
scope-of-service adjustments as provided in subdivision (e).

(l) FQHCs and RHCs may appeal a grievance or complaint
concerning ratesetting, scope-of-service changes, and settlement
of cost report audits, in the manner prescribed by Section 14171.
The rights and remedies provided under this subdivision are
cumulative to the rights and remedies available under all other
provisions of law of this state.

(m) The department shall, no later than March 30, 2008,
promptly seek all necessary federal approvals in order to implement
this section, including any amendments to the state plan. To the
extent that any element or requirement of this section is not
approved, the department shall submit a request to the federal
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for any waivers that
would be necessary to implement this section.

(n) The department shall implement this section only to the
extent that federal financial participation is obtained.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 1.5. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 14132.100 of the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert is amended to read: end insert

14132.100.  

(a) The federally qualified health center services
described in Section 1396d(a)(2)(C) of Title 42 of the United States
Code are covered benefits.

(b) The rural health clinic services described in Section
1396d(a)(2)(B) of Title 42 of the United States Code are covered
benefits.

(c) Federally qualified health center services and rural health
clinic services shall be reimbursed on a per-visit basis in
accordance with the definition of “visit” set forth in subdivision
(g).

(d) Effective October 1, 2004, and on each October begin delete 1, end delete begin insert 1 end insert
thereafter, until no longer required by federal law, federally
qualified health center (FQHC) and rural health clinic (RHC)
per-visit rates shall be increased by the Medicare Economic Index
applicable to primary care services in the manner provided for in
Section 1396a(bb)(3)(A) of Title 42 of the United States Code.
Prior to January 1, 2004, FQHC and RHC per-visit rates shall be
adjusted by the Medicare Economic Index in accordance with the
methodology set forth in the state plan in effect on October 1,
2001.

(e) (1) An FQHC or RHC may apply for an adjustment to its
per-visit rate based on a change in the scope of services provided
by the FQHC or RHC. Rate changes based on a change in the
scope of services provided by an FQHC or RHC shall be evaluated
in accordance with Medicare reasonable cost principles, as set
forth in Part 413 (commencing with Section 413.1) of Title 42 of
the Code of Federal Regulations, or its successor.

(2) Subject to the conditions set forth in subparagraphs (A) to
(D), inclusive, of paragraph (3), a change in scope of service means
any of the following:

(A) The addition of a new FQHC or RHC service that is not
incorporated in the baseline prospective payment system (PPS)
rate, or a deletion of an FQHC or RHC service that is incorporated
in the baseline PPS rate.

(B) A change in service due to amended regulatory requirements
or rules.

(C) A change in service resulting from relocating or remodeling
an FQHC or RHC.

(D) A change in types of services due to a change in applicable
technology and medical practice utilized by the center or clinic.

(E) An increase in service intensity attributable to changes in
the types of patients served, including, but not limited to,
populations with HIV or AIDS, or other chronic diseases, or
homeless, elderly, migrant, or other special populations.

(F) Any changes in any of the services described in subdivision
(a) or (b), or in the provider mix of an FQHC or RHC or one of
its sites.

(G) Changes in operating costs attributable to capital
expenditures associated with a modification of the scope of any
of the services described in subdivision (a) or (b), including new
or expanded service facilities, regulatory compliance, or changes
in technology or medical practices at the center or clinic.

(H) Indirect medical education adjustments and a direct graduate
medical education payment that reflects the costs of providing
teaching services to interns and residents.

(I) Any changes in the scope of a project approved by the federal
Health Resources and begin delete Service end delete begin insert Services end insert Administration (HRSA).

(3) No change in costs shall, in and of itself, be considered a
scope-of-service change unless all of the following apply:

(A) The increase or decrease in cost is attributable to an increase
or decrease in the scope of services defined in subdivisions (a) and
(b), as applicable.

(B) The cost is allowable under Medicare reasonable cost
principles set forth in Part 413 (commencing with Section 413) of
Subchapter B of Chapter 4 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, or its successor.

(C) The change in the scope of services is a change in the type,
intensity, duration, or amount of services, or any combination
thereof.

(D) The net change in the FQHC’s or RHC’s rate equals or
exceeds 1.75 percent for the affected FQHC or RHC site. For
FQHCs and RHCs that filed consolidated cost reports for multiple
sites to establish the initial prospective payment reimbursement
rate, the 1.75-percent threshold shall be applied to the average
per-visit rate of all sites for the purposes of calculating the cost
associated with a scope-of-service change. “Net change” means
the per-visit rate change attributable to the cumulative effect of all
increases and decreases for a particular fiscal year.

(4) An FQHC or RHC may submit requests for scope-of-service
changes once per fiscal year, only within 90 days following the
beginning of the FQHC’s or RHC’s fiscal year. Any approved
increase or decrease in the provider’s rate shall be retroactive to
the beginning of the FQHC’s or RHC’s fiscal year in which the
request is submitted.

(5) An FQHC or RHC shall submit a scope-of-service rate
change request within 90 days begin delete of end delete begin insert after end insert the beginning of any FQHC
or RHC fiscal year occurring after the effective date of this section,
if, during the FQHC’s or RHC’s prior fiscal year, the FQHC or
RHC experienced a decrease in the scope of services provided that
the FQHC or RHC either knew or should have known would have
resulted in a significantly lower per-visit rate. If an FQHC or RHC
discontinues providing onsite pharmacy or dental services, it shall
submit a scope-of-service rate change request within 90 days begin delete of end delete
begin insert after end insert the beginning of the following fiscal year. The rate change
shall be effective as provided for in paragraph (4). As used in this
paragraph, “significantly lower” means an average per-visit rate
decrease in excess of 2.5 percent.

begin insert

(6) (A) The department shall conduct an initial review of a
scope-of-service rate change request within 30 days after
submission by an FQHC or RHC.

end insert begin insert

(B) If the department determines that additional information is
necessary to finalize a new rate, the department shall notify the
FQHC or RHC, no later than the 31st day after submission. The
notification shall state the reason or reasons the submitted
information is insufficient and shall request submission of
supplemental information from the FQHC or RHC.

end insert begin insert

(C) Within one year after receiving a submission that it
determines to be complete, the department shall finalize the
FQHC’s or RHC’s rate and shall update the provider master file
within 10 business days.

end insert begin delete

(6)

end delete

begin insert (7) end insert  Notwithstanding paragraph (4), if the approved
scope-of-service change or changes were initially implemented
on or after the first day of an FQHC’s or RHC’s fiscal year ending
in calendar year 2001, but before the adoption and issuance of
written instructions for applying for a scope-of-service change,
the adjusted reimbursement rate for that scope-of-service change
shall be made retroactive to the date the scope-of-service change
was initially implemented. Scope-of-service changes under this
paragraph shall be required to be submitted within the later of 150
days after the adoption and issuance of the written instructions by
the department, or 150 days after the end of the FQHC’s or RHC’s
fiscal year ending in 2003.

begin delete

(7)

end delete

begin insert (8) end insert  All references in this subdivision to “fiscal year” shall be
construed to be references to the fiscal year of the individual FQHC
or RHC, as the case may be.

(f) (1) An FQHC or RHC may request a supplemental payment
if extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the FQHC
or RHC occur after December 31, 2001, and PPS payments are
insufficient due to these extraordinary circumstances. Supplemental
payments arising from extraordinary circumstances under this
subdivision shall be solely and exclusively within the discretion
of the department and shall not be subject to subdivision begin delete (l). end delete begin insert ( end insert begin insert l end insert begin insert ). end insert
These supplemental payments shall be determined separately from
the scope-of-service adjustments described in subdivision (e).
Extraordinary circumstances include, but are not limited to, acts
of nature, changes in applicable requirements in the Health and
Safety Code, changes in applicable licensure requirements, and
changes in applicable rules or regulations. Mere inflation of costs
alone, absent extraordinary circumstances, shall not be grounds
for supplemental payment. If an FQHC’s or RHC’s PPS rate is
sufficient to cover its overall costs, including those associated with
the extraordinary circumstances, then a supplemental payment is
not warranted.

(2) The department shall accept requests for supplemental
payment at any time throughout the prospective payment rate year.

(3) Requests for supplemental payments shall be submitted in
writing to the department and shall set forth the reasons for the
request. Each request shall be accompanied by sufficient
documentation to enable the department to act upon the request.
Documentation shall include the data necessary to demonstrate
that the circumstances for which supplemental payment is requested
meet the requirements set forth in this section. Documentation
shall include all of the following:

(A) A presentation of data to demonstrate reasons for the
FQHC’s or RHC’s request for a supplemental payment.

(B) Documentation showing the cost implications. The cost
impact shall be material and significant, two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000) or 1 percent of a facility’s total costs, whichever
is less.

(4) A request shall be submitted for each affected year.

(5) Amounts granted for supplemental payment requests shall
be paid as lump-sum amounts for those years and not as revised
PPS rates, and shall be repaid by the FQHC or RHC to the extent
that it is not expended for the specified purposes.

(6) The department shall notify the provider of the department’s
discretionary decision in writing.

(g) (1) An FQHC or RHC “visit” means a face-to-face
encounter between an FQHC or RHC patient and a physician,
physician assistant, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife,
clinical psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or a visiting
nurse. For purposes of this section, “physician” shall be interpreted
in a manner consistent with the begin insert federal end insert Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services’ Medicare Rural Health Clinic and Federally
Qualified Health Center Manual (Publication 27), or its successor,
only to the extent that it defines the professionals whose services
are reimbursable on a per-visit basis and not as to the types of
services that these professionals may render during these visits
and shall include a begin delete physician and surgeon, end delete begin insert medical doctor,
osteopath, end insert podiatrist, dentist, optometrist, and chiropractor. A visit
shall also include a face-to-face encounter between an FQHC or
RHC patient and a comprehensive perinatal begin delete services end delete practitioner,
as defined in Section begin delete 51179.1 end delete begin insert 51179.7 end insert of Title 22 of the California
Code of Regulations, providing comprehensive perinatal services,
a four-hour day of attendance at an adult day health care center,
and any other provider identified in the state plan’s definition of
an FQHC or RHC visit.

(2) (A) A visit shall also include a face-to-face encounter
between an FQHC or RHC patient and a dental begin delete hygienist or end delete
begin insert hygienist, end insert a dental hygienist in alternative begin delete practice. end delete begin insert practice, or a
marriage and family therapist. end insert

(B) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), an FQHC or RHC that
currently includes the cost of the services of a dental hygienist in
alternative begin delete practice end delete begin insert practice, or a marriage and family therapist end insert
for the purposes of establishing its FQHC or RHC rate shall apply
for an adjustment to its per-visit rate, and, after the rate adjustment
has been approved by the department, shall bill these services as
a separate visit. However, multiple encounters with dental
professionals begin insert or marriage and family therapists end insert that take place on
the same day shall constitute a single visit. The department shall
develop the appropriate forms to determine which FQHC’s or begin delete RHC end delete
begin insert RHC’s end insert rates shall be adjusted and to facilitate the calculation of
the adjusted rates. An FQHC’s or RHC’s application for, or the
department’s approval of, a rate adjustment pursuant to this
subparagraph shall not constitute a change in scope of service
within the meaning of subdivision (e). An FQHC or RHC that
applies for an adjustment to its rate pursuant to this subparagraph
may continue to bill for all other FQHC or RHC visits at its existing
per-visit rate, subject to reconciliation, until the rate adjustment
for visits between an FQHC or RHC patient and a dental begin delete hygienist
or end delete begin insert hygienist, end insert a dental hygienist in alternative begin delete practice end delete begin insert practice, or
a marriage and family therapist end insert has been approved. Any approved
increase or decrease in the provider’s rate shall be made within
six months after the date of receipt of the department’s rate
adjustment forms pursuant to this subparagraph and shall be
retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year in which the FQHC
or RHC submits the request, but in no case shall the effective date
be earlier than January 1, 2008.

(C) An FQHC or RHC that does not provide dental begin delete hygienist
or end delete begin insert hygienist, end insert dental hygienist in alternative begin delete practice end delete begin insert practice, or
marriage and family therapist end insert services, and later elects to add these
services, shall process the addition of these services as a change
in scope of service pursuant to subdivision (e).

(h) If FQHC or RHC services are partially reimbursed by a
third-party payer, such as a managed care entity (as defined in
Section 1396u-2(a)(1)(B) of Title 42 of the United States Code),
the Medicare begin delete Program, end delete begin insert program, end insert or the Child Health and Disability
Prevention (CHDP) program, the department shall reimburse an
FQHC or RHC for the difference between its per-visit PPS rate
and receipts from other plans or programs on a contract-by-contract
basis and not in the aggregate, and may not include managed care
financial incentive payments that are required by federal law to
be excluded from the calculation.

(i) (1) An entity that first qualifies as an FQHC or RHC in the
year 2001 or later, a newly licensed facility at a new location added
to an existing FQHC or RHC, and any entity that is an existing
FQHC or RHC that is relocated to a new site shall each have its
reimbursement rate established in accordance with one of the
following methods, as selected by the FQHC or RHC:

(A) The rate may be calculated on a per-visit basis in an amount
that is equal to the average of the per-visit rates of three comparable
FQHCs or RHCs located in the same or adjacent area with a similar
caseload.

(B) In the absence of three comparable FQHCs or RHCs with
a similar caseload, the rate may be calculated on a per-visit basis
in an amount that is equal to the average of the per-visit rates of
three comparable FQHCs or RHCs located in the same or an
adjacent service area, or in a reasonably similar geographic area
with respect to relevant social, health care, and economic
characteristics.

(C) At a new entity’s one-time election, the department shall
establish a reimbursement rate, calculated on a per-visit basis, that
is equal to 100 percent of the projected allowable costs to the
FQHC or RHC of furnishing FQHC or RHC services during the
first 12 months of operation as an FQHC or RHC. After the first
12-month period, the projected per-visit rate shall be increased by
the Medicare Economic Index begin insert (MEI) end insert then in effect. The projected
allowable costs for the first 12 months shall be cost settled and the
prospective payment reimbursement rate shall be adjusted based
on actual and allowable cost per visit. begin insert The department shall finalize
a new rate within one year after the submission of the actual cost
report from the first full 12 months of operation and shall update
the department provider master file within 10 business days after
finalizing the rate. end insert

(D) The department may adopt any further and additional
methods of setting reimbursement rates for newly qualified FQHCs
or RHCs as are consistent with Section 1396a(bb)(4) of Title 42
of the United States Code.

(2)  begin insert (A) end insert begin insert   end insert In order for an FQHC or RHC to establish the
comparability of its begin delete caseload for purposes of subparagraph (A) or
(B) of paragraph (1), end delete begin insert caseload, end insert the department shall require that
the FQHC or RHC submit its most recent annual utilization report
as submitted to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development, unless the FQHC or RHC was not required to file
an annual utilization report. FQHCs or RHCs that have experienced
changes in their services or caseload subsequent to the filing of
the annual utilization report may submit to the department a
completed report in the format applicable to the prior calendar
year. FQHCs or RHCs that have not previously submitted an annual
utilization report shall submit to the department a completed report
in the format applicable to the prior calendar year. The FQHC or
RHC shall not be required to submit the annual utilization report
for the comparable FQHCs or RHCs to the department, but shall
be required to identify the comparable FQHCs or RHCs. begin insert This
paragraph shall apply only to a facility that selects the
comparability approach described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (1). end insert

begin insert

(B) The department shall conduct an initial review of the three
FQHCs or RHCs for the purpose of determining comparability
within 30 days after submission by the new entity. If the department
determines one or more of the submitted centers or clinics do not
meet the comparability threshold, the department shall notify the
new entity no later than the 31st day after submission.

end insert begin insert

(C) The notification shall state the reason or reasons for the
finding of noncomparability and shall request a supplemental
submission from the new entity. The request shall clearly state
whether the new entity shall submit data from one, two, or three
FQHCs or RHCs to meet the comparability threshold. Once the
new entity submits its supplemental information, the initial review
process described in subparagraph (B) shall apply.

end insert begin insert

(D) Within one year after receiving a submission determined
by the department to be comparable, the department shall finalize
the new entity’s rate and shall update the provider master file
within 10 business days.

end insert

(3) The rate for any newly qualified entity set forth under this
subdivision shall be effective retroactively to the later of the date
that the entity was first qualified by the applicable federal agency
as an FQHC or RHC, the date a new facility at a new location was
added to an existing FQHC or RHC, or the date on which an
existing FQHC or RHC was relocated to a new site. The FQHC
or RHC shall be permitted to continue billing for Medi-Cal covered
benefits on a fee-for-service basis begin insert under its existing provider
number, end insert until it is informed of its begin delete enrollment as an end delete FQHC or begin delete RHC, end delete
begin insert RHC enrollment approval, end insert and the department shall reconcile the
difference between the fee-for-service payments and the FQHC’s
or RHC’s prospective payment rate at that time.

(j) Visits occurring at an intermittent clinic site, as defined in
subdivision (h) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code, of
an existing FQHC or RHC, or in a mobile unit as defined by
paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1765.105 of the Health
and Safety Code, shall be billed by and reimbursed at the same
rate as the FQHC or RHC establishing the intermittent clinic site
or the mobile unit, subject to the right of the FQHC or RHC to
request a scope-of-service adjustment to the rate.

(k) An FQHC or RHC may elect to have pharmacy or dental
services reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis, utilizing the current
fee schedules established for those services. These costs shall be
adjusted out of the FQHC’s or RHC’s clinic base rate as
scope-of-service changes. An FQHC or RHC that reverses its
election under this subdivision shall revert to its prior rate, subject
to an increase to account for all begin delete MEI end delete begin insert Medicare Economic Index end insert
increases occurring during the intervening time period, and subject
to any increase or decrease associated with applicable
begin delete scope-of-services end delete begin insert scope-of-service end insert adjustments as provided in
subdivision (e).

begin delete

(l)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert l end insert begin insert ) end insert  FQHCs and RHCs may appeal a grievance or complaint
concerning ratesetting, scope-of-service changes, and settlement
of cost report audits, in the manner prescribed by Section 14171.
The rights and remedies provided under this subdivision are
cumulative to the rights and remedies available under all other
provisions of law of this state.

(m) The department shall, begin delete by end delete no later than March 30, 2008,
promptly seek all necessary federal approvals in order to implement
this section, including any amendments to the state plan. To the
extent that any element or requirement of this section is not
approved, the department shall submit a request to the federal
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for any waivers that
would be necessary to implement this section.

(n) The department shall implement this section only to the
extent that federal financial participation is obtained.

begin insert

(o) The department shall correct erroneous payments at least
quarterly to reprocess past claims and ensure all claims are
reimbursed at the finalized new rate determined pursuant to either
subdivision (e) or (i).

end insert

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert begin insert

Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to
Section 14132.100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed
by both this bill and Senate Bill 610. It shall only become operative
if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before
January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 14132.100 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after
Senate Bill 610, in which case Section 1 of this bill shall not
become operative.

end insert