Medi-Cal: eligibility: former foster youths.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which health care benefits are provided to qualified low-income individuals. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions. This bill, commencing January 1, 2014, to the extent federal financial participation is available and to the extent required by federal law, would extend Medi-Cal eligibility to youths who were formerly in foster care and who 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.