Bill Text: CA AB2392 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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

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Bill Title: Medi-Cal: CommuniCal.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-08-31 - In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Charles Calderon. [AB2392 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2392-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2392	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 24, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member John A. Pérez

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 14146) to
Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Medi-Cal.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2392, as amended, John A. Pérez. Medi-Cal: interpreter
services.
   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, 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 federal law provides for
increased administrative funding for translation and interpretation
services provided in connection with the enrollment of, retention of,
and use of services under the Medicaid Program.
   This bill would require the department to seek federal funding to
establish a program to provide and reimburse for medical
interpretation services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are limited
English proficient  (LEP), as prescribed  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the
following:
   (a) Create a program that shall provide reliable access to
language interpretation for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are limited
English proficient.
   (b) Establish a mechanism for accessing federal Medicaid matching
funds to provide funding for the program.
   (c) Enable trained and qualified interpreters to meet the demand
for language services for a significant portion of Medi-Cal
beneficiaries with limited English proficiency.
   (d) Facilitate accurate and timely communication between limited
English proficient patients and their health care providers, which
will improve quality of care, reduce medical errors, increase patient
understanding and compliance with health diagnoses and care plans,
and reduce the cost of health care by eliminating unnecessary tests
and other care.
  SEC. 2.  Article 4.6 (commencing with Section 14146) is added to
Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

      Article 4.6.  Medi-Cal Medical Interpretation Services


   14146.  (a) The department shall seek federal funding to establish
a program to provide and reimburse for certified medical
interpretation services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are limited
English proficient  (LEP) under Section 1903 of the federal
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396b(a)(2)(E))  .
   (b) The program shall offer medical interpreter services to
Medi-Cal providers serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries on either a
fee-for-service or managed care basis pursuant to this article.
   (c) A health care provider or entity entering into a Medi-Cal
provider agreement or a Medi-Cal managed care contract with the
state, including Medi-Cal managed care organizations (MMCOs) and
their subcontracting plans, and fee-for-service providers, may
utilize the program to provide medical interpreter services to
Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
   (d) All contracts between MMCOs and their subcontractors,
including health providers and other health plans, shall include
provisions describing access to medical interpreter services under
this program.
   (e) The department shall pursue all available sources of federal
funding to establish and administer the program and shall seek any
federal approvals necessary to implement this article.