Medi-Cal: managed care: quality, accessibility, and utilization.

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. Under existing law, one of the methods by which Medi-Cal services are provided is pursuant to contracts with various types of managed care plans. This bill would require the department to develop and implement a plan, as specified, to monitor, evaluate, and improve the quality, accessibility, and utilization of health care and dental services provided through Medi-Cal managed care. The bill would require the department to hold quarterly public meetings to report on, among other things, performance measures and quality and access standards, and to invite public comments. The bill would require the department to appoint an advisory committee, with specified responsibilities, for the purpose of making recommendations to the department and to the Legislature in order to improve quality and access in the delivery of Medi-Cal managed care services. The bill would be implemented to the extent that funding is provided in the annual budget act or federal, private, or other non-General Fund moneys are available.