BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1297
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1297 (Chesbro)
As Amended August 31, 2011
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |70-0 |(May 12, 2011) |SENATE: |38-0 |(September 7, |
| | | | | |2011) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Expedites, beginning on July 1, 2012, federal
reimbursement to counties for their Medi-Cal specialty mental
health claims by conforming the procedures and timeframes
required by the Department of Mental Health to federal Medicaid
requirements and the approved Medicaid state plan and waivers.
The Senate amendments :
1)Require reimbursement amounts and administrative costs to be
claimed in a manner consistent with federal Medicaid
requirements and the approved Medicaid state plan and waivers.
2)Require the existing 15% cap on counties' administrative costs
to be based on the total actual cost of direct client
services, instead of the total cost of direct client services
in existing law.
3)Clarify that the state match used to draw down federal
matching funds, for purposes of federal reimbursement, comes
from county funds and not state funds.
4)Delay the effective date of this bill to July 1, 2012.
5)Make other technical, clarifying, and conforming changes.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee,
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
AB 1297
Page 2
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Removal of State Maximum
potentially significant Federal*
Allowance limits
Start-up administrative $0 $150 $100
General/**
expenditures Federal
* Increased federal financial participation
** 50% General Fund, 50% federal funds
COMMENTS : The Senate version of this bill differs from the
Assembly-approved version in that the Senate amendments clarify
provisions relating to counties' administrative cost limit and
the required state match for additional federal funds; delay
implementation of this bill until July 1, 2012; and, make other
technical and conforming changes.
According to the sponsor, the California Mental Health Directors
Association, this bill seeks to eliminate unnecessary state-only
Medi-Cal requirements in the provision of Medi-Cal specialty
mental health services to ensure that the state accesses all
available federal resources, particularly during these
economically challenging times. This bill is intended to
simplify the state's standards and guidelines for these
services, including federal reimbursement amounts and claims
submission timelines, to ensure that they are consistent with
federal Medicaid requirements and California's approved Medicaid
state plan and waivers.
Analysis Prepared by : Cassie Royce / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0002651