Bill Text: CA AB2043 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2043

CA State Legislature page for AB2043

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Medi-Cal: nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-08-15 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2043 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2043-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2043

Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner

February 01, 2024

An act to add Section 14197.06 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2043, as introduced, Boerner. Medi-Cal: nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation.

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, through managed care or fee-for-service delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law covers emergency or nonemergency medical transportation, and nonmedical transportation, under the Medi-Cal program, as specified.

This bill would require the department to require Medi-Cal managed care plans that are contracted to provide nonemergency medical transportation or nonmedical transportation to contract with public paratransit service operators who are enrolled Medi-Cal providers, for the purpose of establishing reimbursement rates for those transportation trips provided by a public paratransit service operator. The bill would require that the rates be based on the department’s fee-for-service rates for the transportation service, as specified.

The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on 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.

Section 14197.06 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

14197.06.

(a) The department shall require Medi-Cal managed care plans that are contracted to provide nonemergency medical transportation or nonmedical transportation pursuant to Section 14132 to contract with public paratransit service operators who are enrolled Medi-Cal providers, for the purpose of establishing reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation and nonmedical transportation trips provided by a public paratransit service operator.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, rates reimbursed by the managed care plan to the public paratransit service operator shall be based on the department’s fee-for-service rates for nonemergency medical transportation or nonmedical transportation service that does not include fixed-route transportation service. The Legislature finds and declares that the reimbursement of the passenger’s fare does not equal the fee-for-service rate.

(c) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized.