Existing law provides for 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. This bill would establish the Medi-Cal Alcohol and Drug Screening and Brief Intervention Services Program, under which the department, in consultation with the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, would be required to provide reimbursement under the Medi-Cal program for alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention services provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are pregnant women or women of childbearing age, as specified. This bill would require the nonfederal share of expenditures submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for purposes of claiming federal financial participation for services provided pursuant to the program to be comprised of only those funds that are paid by a public entity, as defined. The bill would require a public entity that participates in the program, upon receiving federal financial participation for expenditures made to CMS for alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention services, to reimburse the state for any costs of creating and administering the program. The bill would require the department to seek all necessary federal approvals for the implementation of the program. The bill would provide that participation in the program would be voluntary for a qualifying Medi-Cal beneficiary. The bill would also require the fact of whether a beneficiary participates in the program, and the results of any screening done under the program, to be maintained in the beneficiary's confidential medical records, as provided. The bill would provide that the above-described provisions shall be implemented only if, and to the extent that, federal funds are available for that purpose.
Sponsored bills
This measure would recognize the week of April 18, 2010, through April 24, 2010, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.
Existing law makes it unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to sell, or offer for sale, merchandise that advertises itself as being made or manufactured in the United States when any article, unit, or part of the merchandise has been entirely or substantially made, manufactured, or produced outside of the United States. This bill would provide that a product that is made all or virtually all in this state, within the meaning of a specified policy statement of the Federal Trade Commission, shall be deemed made within the United States, as specified. The bill would also state the intent of the Legislature in enacting the bill.
Existing law requires any person transferring the servicing of indebtedness to a different servicing agent to provide written notice to the borrower, as specified. This bill would provide that when the ownership of a mortgage or deed of trust on residential real property is transferred to another person, that person shall provide, upon request of the borrower, the price paid for the indebtedness. This bill would also provide that these provisions apply to real property purchased on or after January 1, 2005.
This measure would proclaim the month of May to be Women Veterans Recognition Month.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which basic health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions. Existing law establishes a program in Alameda County in which utilization controls shall not be required when, pursuant to federal law under the Medicare Program, a county hospital based utilization review committee has been established to determine the level of authorization for payment under Medi-Cal and a utilization plan has been filed with, and approved by, the department. This bill would establish a program, whereby state utilization controls shall not be required for inpatient hospital services provided by designated public hospitals, as defined, with participation being optional for each hospital. The bill would require the department to consult with designated public hospitals in the development of the program. This bill would require the department, as part of the above-described program, to seek any necessary federal approvals, including waivers and state plan amendments, for an alternative utilization control system, as specified. The bill would provide that an alternative utilization control system established for inpatient hospital services shall apply only to the extent that the nonfederal share of expenditures for the services is incurred by the designated public hospital or governmental entity with which it is affiliated, or is otherwise funded with public funds that are transferred to the state from the hospital or governmental entity. This bill would provide that the above-described provisions shall become inoperative on the date the Director of Health Care Services executes a declaration specifying that either the nonfederal share of expenditures for inpatient hospitalization at designated public hospitals used for purposes of claiming federal financial participation is not comprised of funds that are paid and certified by designated public hospitals in accordance with applicable state and federal requirements or the above-described program will result in increased costs to the General Fund. Under existing law, one of the utilization controls to which services are subject under the Medi-Cal program is the treatment authorization request (TAR) process, which is approval by a department consultant of a specified service in advance of the rendering of that service based upon a determination of medical necessity. Existing law requires the department to pursue additional means to improve and streamline the TAR process. In addition to the above-described program providing designated public hospitals with the option of not using state utilization controls, the bill would authorize the department to utilize any process or program, including any pilot project, that is established or authorized pursuant to the above-described provisions authorizing the department to pursue additional means to improve and streamline the TAR process, that is modified or developed to meet the needs of the particular designated public hospital.
Existing law does not provide a system of universal health care coverage for California residents. Existing law provides for the creation of various programs to provide health care services to persons who have limited incomes and meet various eligibility requirements. These programs include the Healthy Families Program administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and the Medi‑Cal program administered by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law provides for the regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and health insurers by the Department of Insurance. This bill would establish the California Healthcare System to be administered by the newly created California Healthcare Agency under the control of a Healthcare Commissioner appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The bill would make all California residents eligible for specified health care benefits under the California Healthcare System, which would, on a single-payer basis, negotiate for or set fees for health care services provided through the system and pay claims for those services. The bill would provide that a resident of the state with a household income, as specified, at or below 200% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for the type of benefits provided under the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the commissioner to seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation to allow various existing federal, state, and local health care payments to be paid to the California Healthcare System, which would then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for with those funds. The bill would create the Healthcare Policy Board to establish policy on medical issues and various other matters relating to the system. The bill would create the Office of Patient Advocacy within the agency to represent the interests of health care consumers relative to the system. The bill would create within the agency the Office of Health Planning to plan for the health care needs of the population, and the Office of Health Care Quality, headed by a chief medical officer, to support the delivery of high quality care and promote provider and patient satisfaction. The bill would create the Office of Inspector General for the California Healthcare System within the Attorney General's office, which would have various oversight powers. The bill would prohibit health care service plan contracts or health insurance policies from being issued for services covered by the California Healthcare System. The bill would create the Healthcare Fund and the Payments Board to administer the finances of the California Healthcare System. The bill would create the California Healthcare Premium Commission (Premium Commission) to determine the cost of the California Healthcare System and to develop a premium structure for the system that complies with specified standards. The bill would require the Premium Commission to recommend a premium structure to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2013, and to make a draft recommendation to the Governor, the Legislature, and the public 90 days before submitting its final premium structure recommendation. The bill would specify that only its provisions relating to the Premium Commission would become operative on January 1, 2011, with its remaining provisions becoming operative on the date the Secretary of California Health and Human Services notifies the Legislature, as specified, that sufficient funding exists to implement the California Healthcare System. The bill would require that system to be operative within 2 years of that date and would provide for various transition processes for that period. The bill would extend the application of certain insurance fraud laws to providers of services and products under the system, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by revising the definition of a crime. The bill would enact other related provisions relative to budgeting, regional entities, federal preemption, subrogation, collective bargaining agreements, compensation of health care providers, conflict of interest, patient grievances, independent medical review, and associated matters. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This measure would memorialize the Legislature's support of legislation currently pending in the United States Congress that would protect the Pacific Coast from new offshore oil drilling. This measure would also memorialize the Legislature's opposition to the proposed expansion of oil and gas drilling off the Pacific Coast and any federal energy policies and legislation that would weaken California's role in energy siting decisions due to those policies.
Existing law requires the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs to perform various functions and duties with respect to the development and implementation of state and local substance abuse treatment programs. This bill would, in addition, establish the Alcohol-Related Services Program and the Alcohol-Related Services Program Fund and would authorize the State Board of Equalization to assess and collect specified fees from every person who is engaged in business in this state and sells alcoholic beverages for resale, as prescribed. The bill would require the fees to be deposited into the fund and would continuously appropriate those moneys exclusively for the alcohol-related services programs established pursuant to this bill. The bill would authorize the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs to establish, contract for, or provide grants for the establishment of component services under the program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states, with California's version of this program being known as the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program. Existing law provides for the CalWORKs program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals who meet specified eligibility criteria. Existing law continually appropriates money from the General Fund to pay for a share of aid grant costs under the CalWORKs program. Existing law imposes limits on the amount of income and personal and real property an individual or family may possess in order to be eligible for aid under the CalWORKs program including specifying the allowable value of a licensed vehicle retained by an applicant for, or recipient of that aid. This bill would delete existing requirements for assessing the value of a motor vehicle for purposes of CalWORKs program eligibility. The bill would, instead, would exclude the value of a licensed motor vehicle from consideration when determining or redetermining CalWORKs eligibility. By increasing the duties of counties administering the CalWORKs program, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would declare that no appropriation would be made for purposes of the bill pursuant to the provision continuously appropriating funds for the CalWORKs program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.