Medi-Cal: federally qualified health center and rural health center 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. Existing law provides that federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services, as defined, are covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program, to be reimbursed, to the extent that federal financial participation is obtained, to providers on a per-visit basis. Existing law permits an FQHC or RHC to elect to have pharmacy or dental services reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis, utilizing the current fee schedules established for those services, and provides that the costs shall be adjusted out of the FQHC's and RHC's clinic base rate as scope-of-service changes, as prescribed. This bill would also permit an FQHC or RHC to have inpatient obstetrical and gynecological services reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis as described above. This bill would require the department to seek all necessary federal approvals no later than March 30, 2011.