BILL NUMBER: AB 969	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  738
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2012
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 26, 2012
	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, 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, until a specified
rate methodology is approved by the Federal Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, 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, in this regard, 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.


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 Section 51501(a) of Title 22 of the
California Code of Regulations, 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.