Bill Text: CA SB502 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 502

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

Bill Title: Medi-Cal: children: mobile optometric office.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 487, Statutes of 2023. [SB502 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB502-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 502

Introduced by Senator Allen

February 14, 2023

An act to add Section 14132.58 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 502, as introduced, Allen. Medi-Cal: children: mobile optometric office.

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. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions, with specified coverage for eligible children and pregnant persons funded by the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Pursuant to existing law, the department established a 3-year pilot program, from 2015 through 2017, in the County of Los Angeles that enabled school districts to allow students enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care plans to receive vision care services at the schoolsite through the use of a mobile vision service provider, limited to vision examinations and providing eyeglasses.

Existing law authorizes an applicant or provider that meets the requirements to qualify as a mobile optometric office to be enrolled in the Medi-Cal program as either a mobile optometric office or within any other provider category for which the applicant or provider qualifies. Existing law defines “mobile optometric office” as a trailer, van, or other means of transportation in which the practice of optometry is performed and which is not affiliated with an approved optometry school in the state. Under existing law, the ownership and operation of a mobile optometric office is limited to a nonprofit or charitable organization, as specified, with the owner and operator registering with the State Board of Optometry.

This bill would require the department, subject to an appropriation, to file all necessary state plan amendments to exercise the option made available under CHIP provisions to cover vision services provided to low-income children statewide through a mobile optometric office, as specified.

The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation. The bill would require implementation of these provisions by January 1, 2025, or the date that any necessary federal approvals have been obtained, whichever date is later. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that General Fund moneys not be used for any future appropriation for these provisions.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 14132.58 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

14132.58.

(a) The department shall file all necessary state plan amendments to exercise the option made available under Title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1397aa et seq.), as set forth in Section 457.40(b) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, to cover vision services provided to low-income children statewide through a mobile optometric office, as defined in Section 3070.2 of the Business and Professions Code and in accordance with subdivision (g) of Section 14043.15 and with Section 14043.26.

(b) (1) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available.

(2) This section shall be implemented by January 1, 2025, or the date that any necessary federal approvals have been obtained, whichever date is later.

(c) (1) Implementation of this section shall be subject to an appropriation made for the purpose of implementing this section.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that General Fund moneys not be used for any future appropriation for the purpose of implementing this section.

(d) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department shall implement this section by means of an all-county letter or similar instruction, without taking any further regulatory action, until regulations are adopted.