BILL NUMBER: SB 1378INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Strickland FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to amend Section 14000.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1378, as introduced, Strickland. Medi-Cal: rural hospitals. 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. Existing law requires the department to consider the special needs and requirements of rural hospitals that are financially distressed, and permits the department to provide technical assistance and other appropriate assistance and relief, as specified, in order to preserve the availability of health care services in rural California. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14000.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 14000.05. The State Department of Health Care Services shall consider the special needs and requirements of rural hospitals in California that are financially distressed and in danger of closure. The department may provide technical assistance and other appropriate assistance and relief on Medi-Cal program policies, reimbursement issues, and Medi-Cal operational and procedural problems to financially distressed rural hospitals, when if appropriate, in order to preserve the availability of health care services in rural California.