California Senate Bill SB1378 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: SB 1378AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 5, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Senator Strickland  (   Coauthors:   Senators   Cogdill,   Cox,   Runner,   and Wyland   )  FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to  amend Section 14000.05 of   add Section 14000.6 to  the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1378, as amended, Strickland. Medi-Cal:  rural hospitals.   expansion limitation.  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.   This bill would prohibit the expansion, as defined, of the Medi-Cal program pursuant to any provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or any amendment thereto, requiring expansion of the program unless the federal government fully funds the expansion.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 14000.6 is added to the   Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:   14000.6. (a) For purposes of this section, "expansion" means any statute or regulation that does either of the following: (1) Increases the number of persons who may be enrolled in the Medi-Cal program. (2) Extends a new service to persons receiving services pursuant to the Medi-Cal program. (b) There shall be no expansion of the Medi-Cal program pursuant to any provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), or any amendment thereto, requiring expansion of the program unless the federal government fully funds the expansion.   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.