BILL NUMBER: AB 344INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chvez FEBRUARY 13, 2015 An act to add Section 14166.156 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 344, as introduced, Chvez. Medi-Cal. 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. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law, subject to federal approval, modifies the inpatient fee-for-service reimbursement methodology for nondesignated public hospitals, as defined, under a specified demonstration project for services on or after July 1, 2012. This bill would prohibit a payment made to a nondesignated public hospital pursuant to these provisions from being subject to a peer grouping inpatient reimbursement limitation established by the department, unless otherwise required by federal law. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 14166.156 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 14166.156. If a payment to a nondesignated public hospital is made pursuant to Section 14166.151, the reimbursement shall not be subject to a peer grouping inpatient reimbursement limitation established by the department, unless otherwise required by federal law.