Medi-Cal: treatment authorization requests.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, and pursuant to which, health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. Under existing law, one of the utilization controls to which services are subject under the Medi-Cal program is the treatment authorization request (TAR) process, under which approval is required by a department consultant in advance of the rendering of that service, based upon a determination of medical necessity. Existing law requires the department to pursue means to improve and streamline the TAR process. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would implement reforms to the Medi-Cal TAR process, as specified.