Medi-Cal: eligibility: inmates.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is governed, in part, by federal Medicaid provisions. Existing law, commencing the later of January 1, 2010, or the date that all necessary federal approvals are obtained, requires, to the extent permitted under federal law, Medi-Cal benefits provided to an individual under 21 years of age who is an inmate of a public institution to be suspended, rather than terminated. Existing law requires county welfare departments to notify the department within 10 days of receiving information that an individual under 21 years of age on Medi-Cal in the county is or will be an inmate of a public institution. Existing law also requires, by a specified time period, the department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California and the County Welfare Directors Association, to establish the protocols and procedures necessary to implement these provisions. This bill would expand, with certain modifications, the above provisions, commencing the later of January 1, 2011, or the date that all necessary federal approvals are obtained, to the extent permitted under federal law, to an individual who is 21 years of age or older who is an inmate of a public institution. By expanding the duties of county welfare departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.