Health professionals: authorization forms.

Existing law establishes 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. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits and services under the Medi-Cal program, subject to utilization controls. Existing law provides that specified utilization controls may be applied to any specific service or group of services that are subject to utilization controls, including prior authorization requirements. Existing law also requires the department to administer other health programs, including the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program and the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program. This bill would require the department to allow a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner to sign any authorization form required by the department for benefits and services under the Medi-Cal program, the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program, or the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program, subject to specified criteria, including, among others, that the physician and the designated physician assistant or nurse practitioner are each enrolled as a Medi-Cal provider.