Medi-Cal: vision services: performance measures.

Fixed a drafting error in Section 14132.916(a)(3)(B) where 'specialized managed care plans. plans that provide vision services' was corrected to 'specialized managed care plans that provide vision services' by removing a stray period and duplicated word.

Fixed a drafting error in Section 14132.916(a)(4) where 'develop a new data collection data-collection mechanism' was corrected to 'develop a new data-collection mechanism.'

Fixed the same 'data collection data-collection' duplication in Section 14132.916(e)(2), correcting it to 'data-collection mechanism.'

The deadline for posting the list of performance measures and corresponding 2026 calendar year data on the department's website was moved from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2029.

The start date for the annual complaints and grievances summary report was moved from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2029.

Removed the requirement that initial benchmarks for calendar year 2027 be 'no less than double' the 2026 calendar year performance measures. The new version simply requires the department to establish an initial set of benchmarks by July 1, 2029, without specifying a minimum threshold.

Performance measure (a)(2)(B) was narrowed from a general 'time to receive vision services' metric to specifically cover only the average time between eye examination and receipt of eyeglasses fabricated by the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CTRA).

Added the qualifier 'that provide vision services' after 'specialized managed care plans' in subsection (a)(3)(B), limiting the scope of plans subject to performance measure reporting.

Fixed several drafting errors including a stray 'The' before 'By no later than January 1, 2028,' a duplicated word 'year years,' and redundant phrasing in subsection (c).

The deadline for posting performance data on the department website changed from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2029, for the 2026 calendar year. A new requirement was added that Medi-Cal vision performance data be posted annually thereafter for each subsequent performance period.

The benchmark-setting process was extended: the department must now wait through three initial reporting years (beginning in calendar year 2026) before establishing benchmarks, rather than just one. Initial benchmarks are due by July 1, 2029, for use beginning in calendar year 2030.

A specific deadline of January 1, 2028 was added to the operative text requiring the department to establish the list of performance measures by that date.

The requirement to track annual complaints from Medi-Cal beneficiaries regarding vision services (as a performance measure) was removed from the list of required measures. A separate complaint reporting requirement in subdivision (e) remains but its start date shifted from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2029.

The time-to-eyeglasses measure was narrowed for the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority: it now specifically measures average time between eye examination and receipt of eyeglasses by the beneficiary only for eyeglasses fabricated by CTR, rather than applying broadly to all eyeglasses.

Senator Richardson was added as a coauthor, expanding the bill's legislative support in the Senate.

The entire amendment to Section 1000 of the Health and Safety Code was removed. This section contained legislative findings endorsing a unified health care financing system (single-payer), referencing the Healthy California for All Commission, projected savings of over $500 billion over a decade, and the elimination of corporate profitmaking as the basis of health care decisions.

Multiple new coauthors were added: Assembly Members Schiavo, Ta, Alanis, Alvarez, Castillo, Hadwick, Harabedian, Macedo, McKinnor, Ortega, Michelle Rodriguez, and Schultz; Senators Alvarado-Gil, Cortese, and Ochoa Bogh.

A new paragraph (4) was added to Section 14132.916(a) stating the department shall report on each performance measure only to the extent it has existing data sources from which to calculate the applicable measure, and that this does not require the department to develop a new data collection mechanism or collect additional data.

A new paragraph (2) was added to Section 14132.916(e) stating the annual complaints and grievances report shall include data from existing sources accessible by the department, and that this does not require the department to develop a new data collection mechanism or collect additional data.

The fiscal committee vote changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now carries a recognized state fiscal impact requiring fiscal committee review.

Minor renumbering of performance measure subparagraphs (former E became D, former F became E) to correct an empty placeholder entry.

Added an entirely new section (WIC 14132.916) requiring DHCS to establish performance measures for Medi-Cal vision services covering both children and adults, applying to fee-for-service and managed care including specialized health plans.

Added Assembly Member Ta as a coauthor of the bill.

Required specific performance measures including: overall utilization (aggregate and per-provider), time to receive eye exams and eyeglasses, number of rendering providers with credentials, annual complaints from beneficiaries, refractive error diagnoses, and per-provider counts of exams, screenings, eyeglasses prescribed and dispensed.

Required an equity framework stratifying all performance data by race, ethnicity, primary language, age, and gender to identify disparities in vision care access.

Required initial benchmarks for 2027 to be no less than double the 2026 calendar year performance levels, with subsequent annual benchmarks to ensure continued improvement in utilization, access, and availability of vision services.

Set a deadline of January 1, 2028 for the department to post the list of performance measures and 2026 calendar year data on its website, with annual complaint/grievance summary reports also posted starting that date.

Added extensive legislative findings establishing that only about 1 in 6 Medi-Cal-enrolled school-age children receives basic primary care vision services, that myopia prevalence has nearly doubled in 30 years, and that California lacks transparent public data on Medi-Cal vision care for children.

Fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amendment introduces fiscal impact requiring fiscal analysis.