Medi-Cal: foster children: eligibility.

Existing law establishes the federal Medicaid Program, administered by each state, California's version of which is the Medi-Cal program. The Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, provides health care services to qualified low-income recipients. This bill would, to the extent federal financial participation is available, extend Medi-Cal eligibility, including eligibility for the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program, to children who were formerly in foster care and are under 26 years of age, pursuant to prescribed provisions of federal law. Because each county is responsible for making Medi-Cal eligibility determinations, by expanding Medi-Cal eligibility the 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.