Medi-Cal: presumptive eligibility.
By mandating that pregnant individuals under 26 who can consent to medical services without parental approval receive presumptive eligibility through qualified hospitals, AB 2729 aims to streamline the application process. The bill also stipulates that individuals applying for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits within 60 days of receiving presumptive eligibility will maintain their coverage until their application is resolved. This expansion would require alterations to current state welfare practices and affect local agencies responsible for making eligibility determinations, thus imposing new mandates on these entities.
Assembly Bill 2729, introduced by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, aims to expand the Medi-Cal program's presumptive eligibility provisions to include all pregnant individuals rather than just women. The bill seeks to rename the program to Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant People (PE4PP) and expand the benefits to cover all medical services available under the Medi-Cal program, with the exception of inpatient services and institutional care. This would allow presumptively eligible pregnant individuals to access necessary healthcare promptly, thereby improving prenatal care accessibility for a broader range of pregnant people.
The bill is significant in that it addresses both the need for immediate healthcare for pregnant individuals and the existing barriers for those under 21 seeking health services. There are concerns regarding the financial implications for local agencies due to the potential influx of pregnant individuals applying for Medi-Cal benefits. Furthermore, opposition may arise from budgetary considerations and the state-mandated local program requirements, necessitating the state to reimburse local agencies for any costs incurred as a result of implementing these expanded services.