Narcotic treatment: medication-assisted treatment: Drug Medi-Cal.

Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to license narcotic treatment programs to use narcotic replacement therapy and medication-assisted treatment in the treatment of addicted persons. Existing law specifies the medications a licensed narcotic treatment program may use for narcotic replacement therapy and medication-assisted treatment by licensed narcotic treatment programs. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes the Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Program (Drug Medi-Cal) , under which the department is authorized to enter into contracts with each county, or enter into contracts directly with certified providers, for the provision of various alcohol and drug use treatment services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Existing law limits reimbursement for narcotic treatment program services to services specified in state and federal regulations governing the licensing and administration of narcotic treatment programs, as specified. This bill would require the department to create reimbursement rates and rate billing codes for authorized medications that are provided by licensed narcotic treatment programs electing to provide noncontrolled medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for patients with a substance use disorder.