BILL NUMBER: SB 200 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Anderson FEBRUARY 7, 2013 An act to amend Section 14000.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 200, as introduced, Anderson. Medi-Cal: rural hospitals. 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 requires the State Department of Health Care Services to consider the special needs of rural hospitals that are financially distressed and in danger of closure, and authorizes the department to provide technical and other assistance relating to Medi-Cal to these hospitals, as specified. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14000.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 14000.05. The State Department of Health Care Services shall consider the special needs and requirements of rural hospitals in California that are financially distressed and in danger of closure. The department may provide technical assistance and other appropriate assistance and relief on Medi-Cal program policies, reimbursement issues, and Medi-Cal operational and procedural problems to financially distressed rural hospitals, when appropriate,in orderto preserve the availability of health care services in rural California.