Medi-Cal: eligibility.

(1) 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 requires, with some exceptions, a Medi-Cal applicant's or beneficiary's income and resources be determined based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) , as specified. Existing law requires the department to establish income eligibility thresholds for those eligibility groups whose eligibility will be determined using MAGI-based financial methods. This bill would codify the income eligibility thresholds established by the department and would make other related and conforming changes. (2) Existing law requires the department to implement specified provisions of federal law to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual who is in foster care on his or her 18th birthday until his or her 26th birthday, as specified. This bill would instead require the department to implement those provisions to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual until his or her 26th birthday if he or she was in foster care on his or her 18th birthday or such higher age the state has elected under federal law. The bill would also require the department to exercise its option under federal law to extend Medi-Cal benefits to independent foster care adolescents, as specified. This bill would require the department to exercise its option under federal law to extend Medi-Cal benefits to individuals under 21 years of age placed in foster homes or private institutions and individuals under 21 years of age for whom a specified adoption agreement is in effect. The bill would require that all of the income considered when determining an individual's eligibility under these provisions be disregarded. Because counties are required to make eligibility determinations and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law, for purposes of determining eligibility, defines, in part, a medically needy family person as a parent or caretaker relative of a child who meets the deprivation requirements of Aid to Families with Dependent Children. This bill would delete the requirement that the parent or caretaker relative meet the deprivation requirements. (4) 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.