Medi-Cal: demonstration project.

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 provisions. Existing law provides for a demonstration project under the Medi-Cal program until October 31, 2015, to implement specified objectives, including better care coordination for seniors and persons with disabilities and maximization of opportunities to reduce the number of uninsured individuals. This bill would authorize the Director of Health Care Services, if the State Department of Health Care Services has not received adequate assurances from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services before November 1, 2015, that the department's application for a subsequent demonstration project, as specified, is likely to be approved with an effective date of November 1, 2015, to request one or more temporary extensions until the approved effective date of the subsequent demonstration project. The bill would require the department, under an approved temporary extension, subsequent demonstration project, or as otherwise permitted under existing federal Medicaid law, to extend and apply existing payment methodologies and allocations, as prescribed. Requirements of the bill would be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available and is not jeopardized. The bill would authorize the department, until July 1, 2016, to implement, interpret, or make specific these provisions by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions without taking regulatory action. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.