BILL NUMBER: SB 36INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senators Hernandez and De Len DECEMBER 1, 2014 An act to add Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184) to Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 36, as introduced, Hernandez. Medi-Cal: demonstration project. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions. Existing law provides for a demonstration project under the Medi-Cal program until October 31, 2015, to implement specified objectives, including better care coordination for seniors and persons with disabilities and maximization of opportunities to reduce the number of uninsured individuals. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to submit an application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver to implement a demonstration project that, among other things, continues the state's momentum and successes in innovation achieved under the demonstration project described above. The bill would require the department to consult with interested stakeholders and the Legislature in developing the waiver application. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184) is added to Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: Article 5.5. Renewal of Health Care Coordination, Improvement, and Long-Term Cost Containment Waiver or Demonstration Project 14184. (a) The department shall submit an application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver to implement a demonstration project that does all of the following: (1) Furthers the delivery of high-quality and cost-efficient care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. (2) Ensures the long-term viability of the delivery system following the expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (3) Continues California's momentum and successes in innovation achieved under the 2010 "Bridge to Reform" Waiver. (b) In developing the waiver application, the department shall consult with interested stakeholders and the Legislature. SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to make changes to state-funded health care programs at the earliest possible time, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.