Medi-Cal: eyeglasses.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, which includes eyeglasses, subject to utilization controls. Existing law provides, except as specified, that certain optional Medi-Cal benefits, including, among others, optometric and optician services, are excluded from coverage under the Medi-Cal program. This bill, to the extent any necessary federal approvals are obtained, would restore coverage of one pair of eyeglasses provided every 2 years to an individual 21 years of age or older whose uncorrected visual acuity is equal to or poorer than 20/40. The bill would authorize the department to implement those provisions by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions.