Medi-Cal: County of Sacramento.

(1) Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons under various health care delivery systems, including fee-for-service and managed care. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into various types of contracts for the provision of services to beneficiaries, including contracts with Medi-Cal managed care plans. Existing law provides that in counties selected by the Director of Health Care Services with the concurrence of the county, a special county health authority may be established, and in any county, by ordinance, a special commission may be established, in order to meet the problems of delivery of publicly assisted medical care in each county, and to demonstrate ways of promoting quality care and cost efficiency. Existing law authorizes several counties, including the County of Alameda, to establish, by ordinance, a health authority, and specified counties, such as the Counties of San Joaquin and Tulare, to establish, by ordinance, a special county health commission. This bill would authorize the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sacramento to establish a health authority to perform specified duties, including negotiating and entering into contracts with health plans, as prescribed. The bill would require the health authority to meet with any health plans intending to contract with the department, and, subsequent to meeting with all interested health plans, to designate to the department at least 2 licensed health plans for the department's approval based on specified criteria. (2) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Sacramento.