Enrolled  August 25, 2022
Passed  IN  Senate  August 23, 2022
Passed  IN  Assembly  May 25, 2022
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 28, 2022
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 07, 2022
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1999

Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula

February 10, 2022

An act to add and repeal Section 14132.83 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1999, Arambula. Medi-Cal: behavioral health: individuals with vision loss.
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, including certain behavioral health services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.
This bill would require the department to establish a pilot project to provide funding for targeted outreach by participating counties to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are blind or have low vision, regarding behavioral health services that are covered by the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require that the pilot project be implemented in at least 6 counties that have agreed to participate, with at least one of those counties being in northern California, one in central California, and one in southern California, as specified. The bill would require the participating counties to conduct outreach, as specified, and report certain information to the department and the Legislature no later than December 31, 2025. The bill would make related legislative findings.
The bill would condition implementation of the pilot project on an appropriation by the Legislature, receipt of any necessary federal approvals, and the availability of federal financial participation.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Adults who lose all, or most, of their vision, especially those whose onset of vision loss is later in life, face a myriad of challenges if they are to continue to live independently and productively.
(b) Adults with vision loss experience challenges, including, but not limited to, social isolation, depression, and other behavioral health issues, caused by the conditions surrounding their vision loss and the attitudes of the individual, their family, and society in general.
(c) Behavioral health services targeted to this population meet only a small fraction of the need.

SEC. 2.

 Section 14132.83 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

14132.83.
 (a) Subject to subdivision (f), the department shall establish a pilot project to provide funding for targeted outreach, as described in subdivision (d), by participating counties to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are blind or have low vision, regarding behavioral health services that are covered by the Medi-Cal program.
(b) The pilot project shall be implemented in at least six counties that have agreed to participate, with at least one of those counties being in northern California, one in central California, and one in southern California. The department shall take into account the representation of urban, rural, and suburban areas.
(c) Participating counties may provide the outreach regarding behavioral health services covered under the Medi-Cal program either directly or by contracting with providers that demonstrate expertise in serving the behavioral health needs of individuals who are blind or have low vision.
(d) Participating counties or the contracting providers shall conduct outreach specifically focused on Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are blind or have low vision, including education and information regarding specialized services in the geographic region to connect individuals with behavioral health providers.
(e) Each participating county shall report to the department and the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, no later than December 31, 2025, all of the following information:
(1) The methods used for outreach to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are blind or have low vision.
(2) The number of active beneficiaries in the pilot project.
(3) The types of services provided.
(4) The types of service providers.
(5) The challenges faced in outreach.
(6) An assessment of additional needs of beneficiaries.
(f) (1) This section shall be implemented subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for purposes of this section.
(2) The department shall seek any necessary federal approvals to implement this section. This section shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.