Medi-Cal: nonemergency medical transportation.

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. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of health care benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including medical transportation services, subject to utilization controls. This bill would require nonemergency medical transportation services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries by managed care organizations directly or under contractual arrangements to be subject to the same personnel, equipment, and inspection requirements as nonemergency medical transportation services provided by fee-for-service enrolled providers, as specified. This bill would provide that a nonemergency medical transportation services provider is not prohibited from establishing higher standards, as specified.