Existing law establishes the California Registered Nurse Education Program, within the Minority Health Education Professions Foundation, under which persons from demographically underrepresented groups or persons who agree in writing prior to graduation to serve in an eligible county health facility or a health manpower shortage area, may apply for awards to assist students in completing nursing programs meeting specified standards.
Existing law creates the Registered Nurse Education Fund, to be used for the purposes of this program. This fund contains a $5 assessment, which is collected by the Board of Registered Nursing at the time of the biennial registered nursing licensure renewal.
Under existing law, provisions establishing the California Registered Nurse Education Program and the licensure renewal assessment collected for that purpose would be repealed on January 1, 2000.
This bill would extend the duration of these provisions until January 1, 2003.
Under existing law, the California Early Intervention Services Act, various state departments provide coordinated services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
Under existing law, the act will repeal on January 1, 2000.
This bill would indefinitely extend the duration of these provisions.
Existing law establishes various programs administered by the State Department of Health Services to assist minority populations and underserved areas.
This bill would establish the Office of Multicultural Health in the department in order to perform specified functions.
Existing law establishes the Breast Cancer Control Program, which provides early breast cancer detection services for uninsured and underinsured women.
This bill would, until July 1, 2000, establish the Breast Cancer Treatment Program, to be administered by an eligible private nonprofit organization contracting with the State Department of Health Services, for the purpose of providing breast cancer treatment services to uninsured and underinsured women with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, to the extent funds are available for that purpose.
Existing law requires the Rural Health Policy Council to develop and administer a competitive grants program for health delivery projects in rural areas. Existing law requires the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to administer funds appropriated for this purpose by the Budget Act of 1998. Under existing law, these provisions become inoperative on July 1, 1999, and are repealed on January 1, 2000.
This bill would instead require the office to administer funds appropriated for this purpose by any act. This bill would provide that upon appropriation, the funds may be expended in the fiscal year of the appropriation or the subsequent fiscal year. This bill would delete the dates upon which these provisions would become inoperative and be repealed.
Existing law requires the Maternal and Child Health branch of the State Department of Health Services to administer a comprehensive shelter-based services grant program to battered women’s shelters.
Existing law requires the department, in implementing this program, to consult with an advisory council which would remain in existence until January 1, 1998.
This bill would extend the date of the existence of this advisory council to January 1, 2003.
Under existing law, persons are required to be immunized against specified communicable diseases prior to admission to daycare institutions or schools. Existing law requires immunization against hepatitis B for all students unconditionally entering or unconditionally advancing to the 7th grade level on or after July 1, 1999.
This bill would require the State Department of Health Services, in consultation with, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California, to adopt and enforce regulations relating to the immunization of first-time enrollees at the institutions against the hepatitis B virus.
The bill would require, with prescribed exceptions, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California, to the extent the regents act by resolution to make this bill applicable to the university, require that first-time enrollees who are 18 years of age or younger provide proof of full immunization against the hepatitis B virus, prior to enrollment.
Existing law creates the Healthy Families Program, administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, to arrange for the provision of health care services to children older than 12 months and less than 19 years of age who meet certain criteria, including having a gross household income equal to or less than 200% of the federal poverty level, and meeting the citizenship and immigration status requirements established by federal law. Existing law requires families with children participating in the program to pay specified family contribution amounts.
The bill would expand coverage to include families with an annual or monthly household income greater than 200% of the federal poverty level by use of an income disregard provision for income between 200 and 250%, inclusive, of the federal poverty level, and specified Medi-Cal income deductions for income over 250% of the federal poverty level. The bill would modify eligibility under the program to include children less than 12 months of age in a family. The bill would permit a minor to apply for coverage on behalf of his or her child, and on behalf of herself or himself if emancipated or not living with a natural or adoptive parent, legal guardian, or caretaker relative, foster parent, or stepparent. The bill would provide that a child who is a qualified alien, as defined in federal law and who is otherwise eligible for participation in the program, shall not be denied eligibility based on the child’s date of entry into the United States. The bill would not require federal financial participation for qualified aliens in the 1999–2000 budget year, but would require that participation in subsequent fiscal years.
Existing law requires applicants for the Healthy Families Program who apply for the purchasing pool to pay the first month’s family contribution to be eligible to participate in the program. Existing law requires subscribers and purchase credit members of the Healthy Families Program to pay monthly contributions. Existing law provides a 4th consecutive month of coverage with no family contribution required if an applicant pays 3 months of required family contributions in advance.
This bill would permit a family contribution sponsor to pay all of the annual required family contributions at the time of application, but would not permit a family contribution sponsor to receive the free months of coverage provided to applicants. The bill would require the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board to determine who may be family contribution sponsors and to provide a mechanism for sponsorship.
Existing law permits initial treatment, as specified, up to 30 days prior to the effective date of coverage under the Healthy Families Program.
This bill would permit initial treatment up to 90 days prior to the effective date of coverage.
Existing law continuously appropriates money from the Healthy Families Fund for purposes of implementation of the Healthy Families Program.
This bill, by liberalizing various eligibility criteria for participation within this program and thereby covering a new pool of participants, would make the moneys in this continuously appropriated fund available for a new or expanded purpose, and would thereby result in an appropriation.
Existing law, the Robert W. Crown California Children’s Services Act, provides for treatment services for physically defective or handicapped persons under the age of 21 years. Existing law limits eligibility to families with an adjusted gross income of $40,000 or less. Existing law requires a family to pay an annual enrollment fee for the California Children’s Services program, except as specified. Existing law requires a county expenditure for services to handicapped children of the county, as specified.
This bill would permit children enrolled in the Healthy Families Program who have a California Children’s Services program (CCS program) eligible medical condition, and whose families do not meet the financial eligibility requirements of the CCS program, to receive CCS program benefits. The bill would exempt these families from the annual enrollment fee. The bill would waive county expenditures for services to these children, and would make corresponding changes in the Healthy Families Program to require the state to pay the expenditures from designated state and federal funds.
Under existing provisions of the Healthy Families Program, operative until July 1, 2003, the State Department of Health Services, in conjunction with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, the County Medical Services Program board, and the Rural Health Policy Council, may develop and administer up to 5 demonstration projects in rural areas that are likely to contain a significant level of uninsured children, including seasonal and migratory worker dependents, to fund rural collaborative health care networks to alleviate unique problems of access to health care in rural areas through grants to entities that meet the criteria and standards for eligibility established by the State Department of Health Services, in conjunction with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and Rural Health Policy Council.
This bill would require that, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, these grant funds be used for purchasing equipment, making capital expenditures, and providing infrastructure.
The Personal Income Tax Law, by reference to specified federal statutes, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1999, allows a deduction for 40% of the amount paid or incurred during the taxable year by a self-employed individual for insurance that constitutes medical care for the taxpayer and his or her spouse and dependents. Existing federal law incrementally increases that deduction to certain percentage rates. Under federal law, a 60% deduction is allowed for taxable years beginning in calendar year 1999 through 2001, a 70% deduction is allowed for taxable years beginning in calendar year 2002, and a 100% deduction is allowed for taxable years beginning in calendar year 2003 or thereafter.
This bill would conform the deduction allowed under the Personal Income Tax Law to the applicable federal percentage of the amount paid or incurred for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1999.
Under existing law, the State Department of Developmental Services contracts with regional centers for the provision of services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities.
Existing law requires the department, when approving regional center contracts, to ensure that regional center staffing patterns demonstrate that direct service coordination is the highest priority.
Existing law also requires that these contracts have consumer-to-staff ratios that reflect an overall average of 62 consumers to each staff member.
Existing law also requires that a regional center assign a service coordinator, who shall be responsible for implementing, overseeing, and monitoring each client’s individual program plans.
This bill would enact specified regional center service coordinator-to-consumer ratios. It would require, by December 15, 1999, the department to make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the core staffing formula used to allocate operations funding to regional centers, and would require each regional center to provide the department with service coordinator caseload data.
The bill would also require that the regional centers provide the consumer, or where appropriate, his or her parents, legal guardian or conservator or authorized representative, with written notification of any permanent change in the assigned service coordinator within 10 business days.
Under existing law, certain persons with developmental disabilities are placed in state developmental centers operated by the State Department of Developmental Services.
This bill would require the department to develop policies and procedures, by no later than 30 days following the effective date of the Budget Act of 1999, at each developmental center, for the notification of appropriate law enforcement agencies in the event of a forensic client walkaway or escape.
Existing law contains provisions governing rates for community care facilities serving persons with developmental disabilities.
This bill would require that, for the 1999–2000 fiscal year, the rate schedule for these facilities be increased July 1, 1999, based upon the amount appropriated in the Budget Act of 1999 for that purpose, and that effective January 1, 2000, any funds available from cost-of-living adjustments in the Supplemental Security Income State Supplementary Payment for the 1999–2000 fiscal year be used to further increase these rates.
Existing law requires the State Department of Mental Health to identify, from mental health block grant funds provided by the federal government, the maximum amount that federal law and regulation permit to be allocated to cities and counties according to a specified formula.
This bill would authorize the department, in consultation with the California Mental Health Directors Association, to utilize funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Block Grant, awarded to the department, above the funding level provided in federal fiscal year 1998, for the development of innovative mental health programs for identified target populations, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
Existing law contains provisions governing placement of persons with developmental disabilities.
This bill would provide that when an individual charged with a violent felony has been committed to the State Department of Developmental Services, due to a finding of incompetency to stand trial, for placement in a secure treatment facility, the department shall give priority to placing the individual at Porterville Developmental Center prior to placing him or her at any other developmental center which has been designated as a secure treatment facility.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Services, under which basic health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons.
Under existing law, a child is eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits if the child meets certain deprivation requirements.
This bill would revise those requirements, effective March 1, 2000.
Existing law requires the department, not later than July 1, 1998, to create and implement a simplified application package for children, pregnant women, and infants.
This bill would require the department, by July 1, 2000, to create and implement a simplified application package for children, families, and adults applying for Medi-Cal. It would also require the department, by July 1, 2000, to revise the quarterly reporting form for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to be as simple as possible to complete.
Under existing law, counties are responsible for the implementation of eligibility determinations under the Medi-Cal program.
By extending the eligibility for benefits under the Medi-Cal program and modifying the eligibility determination process, this bill would increase the responsibilities of the counties in the administration of the Medi-Cal program, and would result in a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires the State Department of Health Services to exercise its option under federal law authorizing states to use income and resource methodologies that are less restrictive than the methodologies used under the state plan meeting certain eligibility standards for families with dependent children to expand eligibility under the Medi-Cal program, to the extent federal financial participation is available.
This bill would specify that the department shall exercise that option by exempting all resources, commencing August 1, 1999, if federal financial participation is available.
Under existing California law, any alien who is otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal services, but who does not meet specified requirements relating to residency status, is only eligible for care and services that are necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition and medical care directly related to the emergency and for medically necessary pregnancy-related services. However, the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 makes any alien who is not a qualified alien, as defined, ineligible for federal public benefits, including medical assistance under the federal medicaid program for assistance other than care and services necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition. Federal law also prohibits a state from providing defined state public benefits to certain aliens, unless state legislation is enacted subsequent to the effective date of the act, August 22, 1996.
This bill would provide that any alien who is otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal services, but who does not meet specified requirements relating to residency status, is eligible for medically necessary pregnancy-related services.
Under existing law, counties are responsible for determining eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits. By making certain aliens eligible for Medi-Cal benefits, this bill would increase county responsibilities in making eligibility determinations, and would result in a state-mandated local program.
Under existing state law, certain aliens ineligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits are eligible to receive long-term care benefits.
This bill would provide that any alien who is otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal services, but who does not meet the requirements to receive the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits due to his or her alien status, shall be eligible for long-term care services.
Since the bill would affect the eligibility of persons for programs administered by local agencies and school districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.
Existing law, operative until July 1, 2000, provides for the State-Only Family Planning Program, in order to provide family planning comprehensive clinical services to eligible low-income persons.
This bill would indefinitely extend the duration of this program. The bill would also establish a program, within the Medi-Cal program, known as the Family Planning Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) Waiver Program, to provide comprehensive clinical family planning services to any person whose family income is not in excess of 200% of the federal poverty level, to be operational only if a waiver is obtained from the federal government. It would repeal the provisions establishing this program on the first day of the month following 30 days after the date that a written notification is submitted to specified legislative committee chairpersons by the Department of Finance stating that the program is no longer cost-effective.
The bill would also, if this waiver is received for this program, add certain services to those provided under the State-Only Family Planning Program.
The bill would also appropriate $5,000,000 to the State Department of Health Services for purposes of the Partnership for Responsible Parenting Program.
Under existing law, persons who are at least 21 years of age, but who have not attained the age of 65 years, and who are patients in an institution of mental diseases are eligible to receive outpatient services under the Medi-Cal program.
This bill would permit eligible persons to receive ancillary outpatient services regardless of whether federal financial participation is available.
Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations establishing payment rates for nursing facilities.
This bill would require the department, commencing August 1, 1999, to increase the Medi-Cal reimbursement for level A and level B nursing facilities to provide funds for salaries, wages, and benefits increases for direct care staff, as defined, and would require these facilities to provide these increases to their direct care staff.
Existing law also requires the department to adopt regulations setting forth the minimum number of equivalent nursing hours per patient day required in skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities.
The bill would require, commencing January 1, 2000, that the minimum number of actual nursing hours per patient required in skilled nursing facilities be 3.2 hours. It would also require that, commencing January 1, 2000, the minimum number of nursing hours per patient day in skilled nursing facilities be determined without regard to the doubling of nursing hours, as described.
Existing law provides that a party that incurs a forfeiture or a loss in the nature of a forfeiture by reason of failure to comply with an obligation may be relieved from the forfeiture by making full compensation to the other party, except in cases of grossly negligent, willful, or fraudulent breach of duty.
This bill would provide that this relief does not apply to Medi-Cal reimbursement or prior authorization.
Existing law permits the State Department of Health Services, in conjunction with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, to conduct pilot outreach and education projects, through the allocation of grant funds or a competitive process, to entities with experience in serving uninsured children, Medi-Cal beneficiaries, or in providing services to low-income families.
This bill would, instead, require the department, in conjunction with the board, to award contracts to community-based organizations to help families learn about, and enroll in, the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program, and other health care programs for low-income children.
Existing law establishes the California Children’s Services Program, in order to provide services to qualified children with disabilities.
Existing law prohibits, with specified exceptions, and until August 1, 2000, services covered under that program from being incorporated into specified contracts entered into under the Medi-Cal program.
This bill would extend this date until August 1, 2005.
Existing law establishes the continuously appropriated Medi-Cal Medical Education Supplemental Payment Fund for allocation to university teaching hospitals and major nonuniversity teaching hospitals and the continuously appropriated Large Teaching Emphasis Hospital and Children’s Hospital Medi-Cal Medical Education Supplemental Payment Fund for allocation to large teaching emphasis hospitals and children’s hospitals.
Existing law establishes that the funds are inoperative June 30, 1999, and repealed January 1, 2000.
This bill would extend those dates by a period of one year, and by extending the operative period of a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
Existing law provides that one of the services offered under the Medi-Cal program is dental services, subject to utilization controls.
This bill would provide that when entering into contracts with health care service plans that provide comprehensive dental benefits to Medi-Cal beneficiaries on an at-risk basis, the department may require that the health care service plans pay for the costs of the administrative and regulatory oversight required to monitor the contract compliance terms of the agreement with the department.
Existing law, until January 1, 2000, provides for the provision of drugs that are reimbursed through the Medi-Cal program without prior authorization when they are on an approved list of contract drugs.
This bill would extend until January 1, 2001, provisions for the use of a list of contract drugs for purposes of the Medi-Cal program.
Existing law, until January 1, 2000, authorizes the State Department of Health Services to enter into contracts with manufacturers of single-source and multiple-source drugs under the Medi-Cal program, and specifies procedures for the implementation of that authority.
This bill would extend that authority to January 1, 2001.
Under the Medi-Cal program, the State Department of Health Services is required, until January 1, 2000, to take all appropriate steps to ensure that transitional inpatient days are included in the payment adjustment program, as specified.
This bill would extend that requirement until January 1, 2001.
Existing law authorizes Medi-Cal reimbursement, until January 1, 2000, for transitional inpatient care, as defined, in general acute care hospitals and other specified health facilities.
This bill would extend that authorization until January 1, 2001.
Under existing law, the State Department of Health Services is required to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the effectiveness and safety of the transitional inpatient care program, by January 1, 1999.
This bill would instead require that evaluation be made by January 1, 2000.
Under the Medi-Cal program, the department is required to make supplemental payments to certain disproportionate share hospitals based on specified criteria. Payments are made from defined intergovernmental transfers that are paid into the Medi-Cal Inpatient Payment Adjustment Fund, as required, with this fund being continuously appropriated for specified purposes. Existing law authorizes moneys in the fund to be used for transfers to the Health Care Deposit Fund in the amount of $114,757,690 for the 1998–99 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter.
This bill would authorize, instead, transfers to the Health Care Deposit Fund in the amount of $84,757,690 for the 1999–2000 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, and would require the department to implement this reduction in a specified manner. By changing the amount of moneys transferred for purposes of the Health Care Deposit Fund from the continuously appropriated Inpatient Payment Adjustment Fund, the bill would result in an appropriation.
Existing law provides that the board of supervisors of a county that contracted with the State Department of Health Services pursuant to a specified provision of law during the 1990–91 fiscal year and any county with a population under 300,000, as determined in accordance with the 1990 decennial census, by adopting a resolution to that effect, may elect to participate in the County Medical Services Program for state administration of health care services to eligible persons in the county.
Existing law provides for the State-Only Family Planning program, under which family planning services are provided to eligible individuals.
This bill would authorize the department, upon reliable evidence of fraud or willful misrepresentation by a provider under these programs, to collect any overpayment identified through an audit or examination from any provider or withhold payment for any goods or services owing to the provider.
The bill would also provide for disenrollment, in accordance with specified limitations, for providers and prohibit enrollment for applicants for provider status, found to have committed fraud or abuse.
Existing law provides that counties and the state shall share the risk for cost increases of the County Medical Services Program not funded through other sources according to specified parameters.
This bill would revise those risk-sharing requirements for the 1999–2000 fiscal year.
Existing law establishes the Community Challenge Grant Program, administered by the State Department of Health Services, in order to provide community challenge grants to reduce the number of teenage and unwed pregnancies. The provisions of this program are operative until July 1, 1999, and would be repealed on January 1, 2000.
Existing law also establishes the State-Only Family Planning Program, in the department, to provide comprehensive clinical family planning services to low-income men and women.
This bill would extend the duration of the Community Challenge Grant Program for one year, but would condition program implementation on receipt of federal financial participation pursuant to a federal waiver received under the State-Only Family Planning Services Program.
Existing law establishes various tobacco use prevention programs funded through moneys derived from the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund and administered by the State Department of Health Services and the State Department of Education.
This bill would make moneys appropriated for purposes of these programs by the Budget Act of 1999 available without regard to fiscal years until July 1, 2002.
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, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000.
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.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.