Bill Text: CA AB319 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 319 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Narcotic treatment: medication-assisted treatment: Drug Medi-Cal.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Failed) 2020-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB319 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB319-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly March 25, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 319

Introduced by Assembly Members Blanca Rubio and Waldron
(Coauthor: Senator Stone)

January 30, 2019

An act to ~~amend Section 11839.2 of the Health and Safety Code,~~ add Section 14021.515 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to controlled substances.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 319, as amended, Blanca Rubio. Narcotic treatment: medication-assisted ~~treatment.~~ treatment: Drug Medi-Cal.

Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to license narcotic treatment programs to use narcotic replacement therapy and medication-assisted treatment in the treatment of addicted persons. Existing law specifies the medications a licensed narcotic treatment program may use for narcotic replacement therapy and medication-assisted treatment by licensed narcotic treatment programs.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes the Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Program (Drug Medi-Cal), under which the department is authorized to enter into contracts with each county, or enter into contracts directly with certified providers, for the provision of various alcohol and drug use treatment services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Existing law limits reimbursement for narcotic treatment program services to services specified in state and federal regulations governing the licensing and administration of narcotic treatment programs, as specified.

This bill would require the department to create reimbursement rates and rate billing codes for ~~use by~~ authorized medications that are provided by licensed narcotic treatment programs ~~providing medication-assisted treatment using~~ electing to provide noncontrolled medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for patients with a substance use disorder.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

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

SECTION 1.

Section 14021.515 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14021.51, to read:

14021.515.
(a) The department shall establish reimbursement rates and rate billing codes for medications authorized for use pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 11839.2 of the Health and Safety Code that include the services specified in subdivision (f) of Section 14021.51 that are provided by licensed narcotic treatment programs electing to provide noncontrolled medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for patients with a substance use disorder.
(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until any necessary regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations by January 1, 2021, 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.

SECTION 1.Section 11839.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
11839.2.
~~The following medications are authorized for use in narcotic replacement therapy and medication-assisted treatment by licensed narcotic treatment programs:~~
~~(a)Methadone.~~
~~(b)Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) as specified in paragraph (10) of subdivision (c) of Section 11055.~~
~~(c)Buprenorphine products or combination of products approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for maintenance or detoxification of opioid dependence.~~
(d)Any other medication approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the purpose of narcotic replacement treatment or medication-assisted treatment of substance use disorders. The department shall establish reimbursement rates and rate billing codes for medication-assisted treatment services provided by licensed narcotic treatment programs electing to provide noncontrolled medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with a substance use disorder pursuant to this section.
(e)Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions. The department shall adopt regulations by no later than January 1, 2021.