Bill Text: CA AB2032 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Medi-Cal: medically necessary services.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-04 - Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. [AB2032 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB2032-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 02, 2020 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2032
| Introduced by Assembly Member Wood |
January 30, 2020 |
An act to amend Section 14059.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2032, as amended, Wood.
Medi-Cal: medically necessary services.
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 medically necessary health care services, including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) for an individual under 21 years of age, subject to utilization controls and consistent with federal requirements. specified mental health and substance use disorder services, pursuant to a schedule of benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.
Under existing state
law, for individuals 21 years of age and older, a service is “medically necessary” if it is reasonable and necessary to protect life, to prevent significant illness or significant disability, or to alleviate severe pain and for pain. Existing law provides that for individuals under 21 years of age, “medically necessary” or “medical necessity” standards are governed by the definition in federal law.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision of law.
This bill would provide that the above-specified
medical necessity standards do not preclude coverage for, and reimbursement of, a clinically appropriate and covered mental health or substance use disorder assessment, screening, or treatment service before a provider renders a diagnosis.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 14059.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:14059.5.
(a) For an individual 21 years of age or older, a service is “medically necessary” or a “medical necessity” when it is reasonable and necessary to protect life, to prevent significant illness or significant disability, or to alleviate severe pain.(b) (1) For an individual under 21 years of age, a service is “medically necessary” or a “medical necessity” if the service meets the standards set forth in Section 1396d(r)(5) of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(2) The department and its contractors shall update any model evidence of coverage documents, beneficiary handbooks, and related material to
ensure the medical necessity standard for coverage for an individual under 21 years of age is accurately reflected in all materials.
(3) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, and make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan provider bulletins, manuals, plan contract amendments, or similar instructions until regulations are revised or adopted.
(4) By July 1, 2022, the department shall revise or adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(c) This section does not preclude coverage for, or reimbursement of, a clinically appropriate and covered mental health or substance use disorder assessment, screening, or treatment service before a provider renders a diagnosis.
(c)
(d) This section shall not be construed to does not limit the application of subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 51184 of Title 22 of the California
Code of Regulations.
