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AB-1131 Medi-Cal: comprehensive medication management.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 06/24/2019 02:00 PM
AB1131:v95#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  June 24, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 16, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 11, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 25, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1131


Introduced by Assembly Member Gloria
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Wood)

February 21, 2019


An act to add Section 14132.04 14132.025 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1131, as amended, Gloria. Medi-Cal: comprehensive medication management.
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 establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, which includes outpatient prescription drugs, subject to utilization controls and the Medi-Cal list of contract drugs.
This bill would provide that comprehensive medication management (CMM) services, as defined, are covered under the Medi-Cal program, and would require CMM services to include, among other specified functions, the development of a care plan in collaboration with the beneficiary and the beneficiary’s health care providers to address identified medication therapy problems. The bill would require CMM services to be offered to a beneficiary who is referred by a physician and surgeon as having a medical condition that could benefit from the provision of CMM services and who meets one or more of specified criteria, including being prescribed 8 or more prescription drugs or biologics, collectively by multiple prescribers, to treat or prevent 2 or more chronic medical conditions.
The bill would require the department to establish reimbursement rates and rate billing codes for CMM services provided by a licensed pharmacist. The bill would require a pharmacist who initiates, adjusts, or discontinues medication in the course of providing CMM services to do so pursuant to established policies, procedures, or protocols described in existing provisions regulating pharmacists.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.Section 14132.04 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
14132.04.

SECTION 1.

 Section 14132.025 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14132.02, to read:

14132.025.
 (a) Comprehensive medication management (CMM) services are covered under the Medi-Cal program.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Chronic medical condition” includes, but is not limited to, arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression.
(2) “Comprehensive medication management” means a pharmacist-led, evidence-based, preventive clinical service that aims to ensure optimal use of medications.
(3) “Medication” means prescription medications, biologics, over-the-counter medications, or nutritional or herbal supplements.
(4) “Medication therapy problems” means the use of unnecessary medication, the need for additional medication, ineffective medication, subtherapeutic dosage, inadequate monitoring, adverse event, medication interaction, excessive dosage, inadequate adherence, availability of more cost-effective medication, or inability of the beneficiary to afford the medication.
(c) CMM services shall be offered to a beneficiary who is referred by a physician and surgeon as having a medical condition that could benefit from the provision of CMM services and who meets one or more of the following criteria:
(1) Is prescribed eight or more prescription drugs or biologics, collectively by multiple prescribers, to treat or prevent two or more chronic medical conditions.
(2) Has been discharged from a hospital, rehabilitation facility, or long-term care health care facility with one or more chronic medical conditions, conditions that are being treated with prescription drugs, with a need for a plan to enhance care coordination efforts, including those related to comprehensive transitional care services under the Health Home Program consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 14127.2.
(3) Has failed to achieve therapeutic goals and is experiencing adverse effects that are potentially medication related.
(d) CMM services provided pursuant to this section shall do all of the following:
(1) Collect and analyze information, addressing both of the following:
(A) Review of the beneficiary’s medical record to gather relevant information, including medication lists, laboratory values, diagnostic tests, and a medical problem list.
(B) Comprehensive review of medications and associated health and social history of the beneficiary in consultation with the beneficiary.
(i) For purposes of this subparagraph, “health and social history” includes, but is not limited to, social determinants of health relevant to medications, such as the ability of the beneficiary to afford the medication, the potential impact of education level, housing, or means of transportation on the beneficiary’s ability to use medications as intended, and health literacy level.
(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, “review of medications” includes, but is not limited to, review of indication, effectiveness, safety, medication adverse effects, medication list reconciliation, adherence, experience, the beneficiary’s personal goals of therapy, and how the beneficiary manages their medications at home.
(2) Assess the information and formulate a medication therapy problem list.
(3) Develop a care plan in collaboration with the beneficiary and the beneficiary’s health care providers to address the identified medication therapy problems.
(4) Implement the care plan in collaboration with the beneficiary’s health care providers, the beneficiary, and the beneficiary’s caregivers.
(5) Provide followup and monitoring to optimize the care plan, and identify and resolve medication therapy problems, with the goal of optimizing medication use and improving care. Followup and monitoring shall be coordinated with the physician and surgeon and any other health care providers of the beneficiary.
(e) The department shall establish reimbursement rates and rate billing codes for CMM services provided pursuant to this section by a pharmacist licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(f) This section shall not be construed to expand or restrict the activities that a pharmacist is authorized to perform pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code. A pharmacist who initiates, adjusts, or discontinues medication in the course of providing CMM services shall do so pursuant to established policies, procedures, or protocols described in Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.