Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers: rural health clinics: managed care contracts.

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 that federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services, as defined, are covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program to be reimbursed, to the extent that federal financial participation is obtained, to providers on a per-visit basis. Existing law authorizes an FQHC or RHC to apply for an adjustment to its per-visit rate, based on a change in the scope of services provided, as prescribed. Existing law establishes alternative ratesetting procedures with respect to a new entity that first qualifies as an FQHC or RHC in the year 2001 or later, a newly licensed facility at a new location added to an existing FQHC or RHC or an existing FQHC or RHC that is relocated. Two of the procedures are referred to as comparability approaches, based on the rates of 3 similarly situated FQHCs and RHCs. The 3rd procedure requires, at a new entity's one-time election, that the department establish the reimbursement rate, calculated on a per-visit basis, that equals 100% of the projected allowable costs to the FQHC or RHC of furnishing services during its first 12 months of operation as an FQHC or RHC. This bill would require the department to finalize a new rate within 1 year after an FQHC's or RHC's submission of a scope-of-service rate change. With respect to a new FQHC or RHC that has elected for the department to establish its reimbursement rate based on projected allowable costs as described above, this bill would require the department to finalize that rate within 1 year after the submission of the actual cost report from the first full 12 months of operation, as specified. This bill would revise the department's responsibilities with respect to a new entity or a relocated FQHC or RHC that selects either of the comparability approaches. The bill would require the department to review the comparable facilities to determine if any of them do not meet the comparability threshold and, if so, to notify the new entity, and request a supplemental submission, as prescribed. The bill would require the department to conduct an initial review of a scope-of-service rate change request within 30 days after submission by the FQHC or RHC, and notify the FQHC or RHC by the 31st day after submission if the department determines that additional information is necessary, as prescribed. The bill would require the department to finalize the FQHC's or RHC's rate within 1 year after receiving a submission the department determines to be complete. This bill would require the department to correct erroneous payments at least quarterly to reprocess past claims and ensure all claims are reimbursed at the appropriate finalized new rate. Existing law requires the department to administer a program to ensure that total payments to FQHCs and RHCs operating as managed care subcontractors comply with applicable federal law regarding payment for services provided by FQHCs and RHCs. Under the department's program, existing law requires FQHCs and RHCs subcontracting with specified managed care plans to seek supplemental reimbursement from the department through a per visit fee-for-service billing system. To be reimbursed under these provisions, existing law requires each FQHC and RHC to submit to the department for approval a rate differential based on the FQHC's or RHC's reasonable cost or the prospective payment rate. Within 6 months of the end of the FQHC's or RHC's fiscal year, existing law requires, to the extent feasible, the department to perform an annual reconciliation to reasonable cost, and make payments to, or obtain recovery from, the FQHC or RHC. This bill would impose various requirements on the department regarding the reconciliation process described above. The bill would require the department to complete the final reconciliation review and pay to the center or clinic any remaining amount owed within 18 months after the last date of the fiscal year for which the department is conducting the review. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 14132.100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code made by this bill and AB 858 to take effect if both bills are chaptered and this bill is chaptered last.