Medi-Cal: provisional provider status: medically underserved areas.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions. Existing law requires applicants and providers, as defined, to submit a complete application package for enrollment, continuing enrollment, or enrollment at a new location or a change in location and requires the application form for enrollment, the provider agreement, and all attachments or changes to be signed under penalty of perjury. Existing law requires the department to grant provisional provider status to applicants and providers, as specified, and requires the department to grant preferred provisional provider status to an applicant or provider who meets specified criteria. This bill would require the department to grant provisional provider status to an applicant or provider who meets specified criteria as a provider practicing in a medically underserved area. This bill would provide, to the extent permitted by federal law, that an applicant or provider granted provisional provider status as a provider serving a medically underserved area whose application is ultimately denied, or whose provisional provider status is terminated, shall not be required to reimburse the department for Medi-Cal funds received during the provisional provider period.