BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1216
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1216 (Bonta) - As Amended May 14, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill establishes transparency measures related to
applications for state plan amendments (SPAs) and federal
waivers submitted by the Department of Health Care Services
(DHCS). It specifies a process and timeline for collection and
posting of public comment related to such applications, and for
AB 1216
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posting final SPA and waiver applications online.
FISCAL EFFECT:
DHCS will incur minor, absorbable costs to comply with this
request. DHCS appears to comply with this bill's requirements
for some initiatives, but not all.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill is intended to codify best practices with
respect to public and stakeholder involvement in development
of Medi-Cal state plan amendments and waivers. The author
notes that significant policy affecting Medi-Cal services and
expenditures is often decided through administrative action,
including waivers and state plan amendments. Particularly
given the unprecedented expansion of Medi-Cal spending and
enrollment, there is a state interest in ensuring stakeholder
process are conducted in a standardized, transparent manner.
2)DHCS Stakeholder Engagement. DHCS has recently implemented a
department-wide protocol to implement best practices across
all DHCS stakeholder groups. The initial series of changes
include prompt calendaring of public stakeholder meetings,
development of websites for all stakeholder efforts with
agendas and meeting material, and posting meeting materials in
advance. DHCS is planning additional changes to internal
processes.
3)Related Legislation.
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a) AB 72 (Bonta and Atkins) and SB 36 (Ed Hernandez),
pending hearings in the other House's respective Health
Committees, are similar bills which require DHCS to submit
an application to CMS for a waiver to implement a
demonstration project.
b) AB 294 (Lackey and Steinorth), pending in Assembly Human
Services Committee, requires specified departments to post
on their Website information about any federally approved
state plan or waiver of federal laws or regulations.
Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)
319-2081