California Assembly Bill AB1595 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1595AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 5, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Jones JANUARY 4, 2010  An act relating to health care reform.   An act to add Section 14005.60 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1595, as amended, Jones.  Health care reform.   Medi-Cal: eligibility.  Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which basic health care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions.   This bill, commencing January 1, 2014, to the extent required by federal law, would provide that a person who meets all other applicable eligibility requirements shall be eligible for benefits under the Medi-Cal program if his or her income does not exceed 133% of the federal poverty level.   Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.   Existing law does not provide a system of universal health care coverage for California residents. Existing law provides for the creation of various programs to provide health care services to persons who have limited incomes and meet various eligibility requirements. These programs include the Healthy Families Program administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and the Medi-Cal program administered by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law provides for the regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and health insurers by the Department of Insurance.   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would implement federal health care reform in this state.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program:  no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 14005.60 is added to the   Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:   14005.60. (a) Effective January 1, 2014, to the extent required by federal law, a person who meets all other applicable eligibility requirements shall be eligible for benefits under this chapter if his or her income does not exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not be construed to limit the eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits as authorized by any other provision of law.   SEC. 2.   If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would implement federal health care reform in this state.