Medi-Cal: violence preventive services.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and 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 establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including various mental health services. Existing federal law authorizes, at the option of the state, preventive services, as defined, that are recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts. This bill would require the department to establish, no later than January 1, 2021, a violence intervention pilot program at a minimum of 9 sites, including at least one site in 9 specified counties, and would require the department to consult with identified stakeholders, such as professionals in the community violence intervention field, for purposes of establishing the pilot program. The bill would require the department to provide violence preventive services that are rendered by a qualified violence prevention professional to a Medi-Cal beneficiary who meets identified criteria, including that the beneficiary has received medical treatment for a violent injury. The bill would require the department to approve one or more training and certification programs for violence prevention professionals, and would require an entity that employs or contracts with a qualified violence prevention professional to maintain specified documentation on, and to ensure compliance by, that professional. The bill would require the department to seek any federal approvals necessary to implement these requirements, and would condition the department's implementation of these provisions to the extent that federal financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized, and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained. The bill would make its provisions inoperative 5 calendar years following the date upon which violence preventive services are able to be provided and billed pursuant to the bill, as specified. The bill would require the department to issue, at least one calendar year prior to the inoperative date, a report to the Legislature on the implementation of the violence intervention pilot program, and the demonstrated impact of violence preventive services.