BILL NUMBER: AB 2653	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Saldana

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act relating to Medi-Cal.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2653, as introduced, Saldana. Medi-Cal: treatment authorization
requests.
   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, and
pursuant to which, health care services are provided to qualified
low-income persons.
   Under existing law, one of the utilization controls to which
services are subject under the Medi-Cal program is the treatment
authorization request (TAR) process, under which approval is required
by a department consultant in advance of the rendering of that
service, based upon a determination of medical necessity. Existing
law requires the department to pursue means to improve and streamline
the TAR process.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would implement reforms to the Medi-Cal treatment
authorization request process, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
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 enact
legislation that would implement reforms to the Medi-Cal treatment
authorization request process administered by the State Department of
Health Care Services in the manner suggested in report number
2009-112 by the Bureau of State Audits, that is due to be released in
May 2010.