Bill Text: CA AB2727 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Medi-Cal: eligibility.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-09-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 291, Statutes of 2022. [AB2727 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB2727-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 2727
CHAPTER 291
An act to amend, repeal, and add Section 14000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 13, 2022.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 13, 2022.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2727, Wood.
Medi-Cal: eligibility.
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 prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose financial eligibility for Medi-Cal is determined based on the application of a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) standard, as specified.
Existing law prohibits the use of resources, including property or other assets, to determine Medi-Cal eligibility for applicants or beneficiaries whose eligibility is not determined using the MAGI-based financial methods, and requires the department to seek federal authority to disregard all resources as authorized by the flexibilities
provided under federal law. Existing law conditions implementation of that provision on the Director of Health Care Services determining that systems have been programmed for those disregards and their communicating that determination in writing to the Department of Finance, no sooner than January 1, 2024. Existing law also conditions implementation of that provision on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation.
Existing law states the intent of the Legislature to provide, to the extent practicable, through the Medi-Cal program, for health care for those aged and other persons, including family persons who lack sufficient annual income to meet the costs of health care, and whose other assets are so limited that their application toward the costs of that care would jeopardize the person or family’s future minimum self-maintenance and security.
This bill would,
commencing on the date that the resource disregards are implemented, remove from that statement of legislative intent the above-described assets as an eligibility criterion. The bill would also refer to residents of the state and make other changes to that statement.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 14000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:14000.
The purpose of this chapter is to afford to qualifying individuals health care and related remedial or preventive services, including related social services that are necessary for those receiving health care under this chapter.The intent of the Legislature is to provide, to the extent practicable, through the provisions of this chapter, for health care for California residents who lack sufficient income to meet the costs of health care and whose other assets are so limited that their application toward the costs of that care would jeopardize the person or family’s future minimum self-maintenance and security. It is intended that, whenever possible and feasible, all of the following
shall apply:
(a) The means employed shall allow, to the extent practicable, eligible persons to secure health care in the same manner employed by the public generally, and without discrimination or segregation based purely on their economic disability. The means employed shall include an emphasis on efforts to arrange and encourage access to health care through enrollment in organized, managed care plans of the type available to the general public.
(b) The benefits available under this chapter shall not duplicate those provided under other federal or state laws or under other contractual or legal entitlements of the person or persons receiving them.
(c) In the administration of this chapter and in establishing the means
to be used to provide access to health care to persons eligible under this chapter, the department shall emphasize and take advantage of both the efficient organization and ready accessibility and availability of health care facilities and resources through enrollment in managed health care plans and new and innovative fee-for-service managed health care plan approaches to the delivery of health care services.
This section shall remain in effect only until subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 is implemented, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.
Section 14000 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:14000.
The purpose of this chapter is to afford to qualifying individuals health care and related remedial or preventive services, including related social services that are necessary for those receiving health care under this chapter.The intent of the Legislature is to provide, to the extent practicable, through the provisions of this chapter, for health care for California residents who lack sufficient income to meet the costs of health care. It is intended that, whenever possible and feasible, all of the following shall apply:
(a) The means employed shall allow, to the extent practicable, eligible persons to secure health care in the same
manner employed by the public generally, and without discrimination or segregation based purely on their economic disability. The means employed shall include an emphasis on efforts to arrange and encourage access to health care through enrollment in organized, managed care plans of the type available to the general public.
(b) The benefits available under this chapter shall not duplicate those provided under other federal or state laws or under other contractual or legal entitlements of the person or persons receiving them.
(c) In the administration of this chapter and in establishing the means to be used to provide access to health care to persons eligible under this chapter, the department shall emphasize and take advantage of both the efficient organization and ready
accessibility and availability of health care facilities and resources through enrollment in managed health care plans and new and innovative fee-for-service managed health care plan approaches to the delivery of health care services.
This section shall become operative on the date that subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 is implemented.
