BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1868
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 9, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                 AB 1868 (Gomez) - As Introduced:  February 19, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              HealthVote:18-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows reimbursement of podiatrists for services  
          currently covered by Medi-Cal. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Potential increased Medi-Cal costs of up to $1.2 million (nearly  
          50% GF, remainder federal funds).  Any reimbursement to  
          podiatrists authorized under this bill are for services already  
          covered if provided by a physician; therefore, increased costs  
          would be attributed to higher utilization of covered services.  

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  .  As a result of the fiscal crisis, the 2009-10 Budget  
            Act eliminated a number of Medi-Cal optional benefits,  
            including "podiatric services."  The elimination prohibited  
            podiatrists from claiming reimbursement, but did not change  
            Medi-Cal coverage of foot and ankle care.  Physicians are  
            currently reimbursed by Medi-Cal for such care. This bill  
            seeks to allow podiatrists to be reimbursed for currently  
            covered services, in order to expand the pool of qualified  
            providers available to the Medi-Cal population. 

           2)Previous Legislation  .  AB 5 X3 (Evans), Chapter 20, Statutes  
            of 2009, eliminated specified optional benefits in Medi-Cal,  
            including dental and podiatric services.  


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 










                                                                  AB 1868
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