BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                    SB 82 
                                                                    Page  1

          Date of Hearing: August 18, 1998

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                              Carole Migden, Chairwoman

                 SB 82 (Vasconcellos) - As Amended: April 22, 1999 

          Policy Committee:                              HealthVote:9 - 5

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local  
          Program:YesReimbursable:   Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Medi-Cal program to cover prenatal care  
          for undocumented women who are otherwise eligible for services  
          under the program.

           FISCAL EFFECT 

          The provision of benefits under the bill would result in annual  
          GF cost of about $63 million to the Medi-Cal program.  These  
          costs would be offset, potentially to a significant degree, to  
          the extent the prenatal care  services the bill would provide  
          reduce the number of Medi-Cal-eligible infants born with  
          significant health problems.

          Costs for the prenatal care services required by this measure  
          are reflected in the 1999-00 Budget Act.

           COMMENTS
           
           1)Purpose of the Bill  .  This bill provides statutory authority  
            to continue existing practice under the Medi-Cal program to  
            provide prenatal care to pregnant women who are unable to  
            document that they are lawful residents of the United States.   
            According to the author, for more than a decade California has  
            offered Medi-Cal services for prenatal care for a broader  
            group of women than those who must be provided such care under  
            federal law.   The author asserts this is because for every $1  
            that is invested in prenatal care, $7 is saved by avoiding  
            premature and low-birthweight babies, whose expensive care  
            would be financed by the Medi-Cal program.   The author argues  
            this policy should be continued, and notes the federal welfare  
            reform law cutting off this benefit also allows states that  








                                                                    SB 82 
                                                                    Page  2

            wish to continue it at their own option to enact statutory  
            reauthorization.  This bill provides such authority. 
           
          2)Background  .  Under provisions of the 1996 federal welfare  
            reform law, states may not provide certain public benefits for  
            non-citizens unless a state subsequently enacts a statute  
            authorizing the benefit with state funds.  In response to this  
            federal law change, Governor Wilson issued an executive order  
            requiring state agencies to identify state-supported programs  
            for which non-citizens should be denied access.  Over 200  
            programs were identified, including Medi-Cal prenatal care.   
            However, most aspects of the Governor's executive order,  
            including as it regards Medi-Cal prenatal care, have not been  
            implemented due to litigation on the issue. 

           Analysis Prepared by  :  William Wehrle / APPR. / (916) 319-2081