BILL NUMBER: AB 969	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 6, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 23, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 25, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Atkins

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add Section 14105.221 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Medi-Cal.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 969, as amended, Atkins. Medi-Cal: clinical laboratory and
laboratory 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 law provides that reimbursement
for clinical laboratory or laboratory services, as defined, may not
exceed 80% of the lowest maximum allowance established by the federal
Medicare program for the same or similar services.
   This bill would prohibit consideration of the donation of, or the
granting of discounts for, clinical laboratory tests or examinations
or laboratory services to a federally qualified health center, as
defined,  for the purpose of serving its uninsured  
patients,  as a basis for the reduction of Medi-Cal payments
below that reimbursement rate.
   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 14105.221 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   14105.221.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, donation
of, or discounts for, clinical laboratory tests or examinations or
laboratory services to a federally qualified health center, as
defined in Section 1396d(l)(2)(B) of Title 42 of the United States
Code,  for the purpose of serving its uninsured patients, 
shall not be considered as a basis for the reduction of Medi-Cal
payments below the reimbursement rate established pursuant to Section
14105.22.