BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2968
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2968 (Leno)
As Amended August 16, 2006
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-1 |(May 30, 2006) |SENATE: |35-2 |(August 22, |
| | | | | |2006) |
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Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to
develop and implement a program to provide a community-living
support benefit (benefit), as specified, for Medi-Cal
beneficiaries who are residents of San Francisco (SF) and would
otherwise be homeless, living in shelters, or institutionalized.
The Senate amendments :
1)Require that services available through the benefit not
duplicate services available through the Medi-Cal state plan,
other Medi-Cal waivers, or other programs financed by the
state.
2)Authorize DHS to modify the eligibility criteria, if needed,
to qualify the benefit in this bill for federal financial
participation.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required DHS to develop and
implement a program to provide a community-living support
benefit, as specified, for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are
residents of SF and would otherwise be homeless, living in
shelters, or institutionalized.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, no state fiscal effect would result from this bill
because this bill would only apply upon a request by SF using
its own funds to pay for waiver implementation, monitoring, and
services.
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill is needed to allow
SF City and County to offer community-based alternatives to
residents of Laguna Honda Hospital (LHH) or those at risk of
institutionalization. The author points out that SF has
AB 2968
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experience providing financial supplements to keep people in
community alternatives. However, according to the sponsors, the
Mayor of SF and SF Department of Public Health, the need for
community services exceeds city resources. This bill will
provide access to a Medicaid funded "wraparound," allowing SF to
offer many more SF residents a community alternative to
admission to LHH. According to the sponsors, SF currently pays
an additional $95 per day for Medi-Cal residents in LHH, and is
willing to continue to do that, but needs the flexibility to
combine their funds with Medi-Cal funds to serve residents in
the community instead of at LHH.
Analysis Prepared by : Deborah Kelch / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0016867