CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1202Introduced by Assembly Member LackeyFebruary 16, 2023 An act to add and repeal Section 14197.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1202, as introduced, Lackey. Medi-Cal: time or distance standards: childrens health care services.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through various health care delivery systems, including managed care pursuant to Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time or distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified. Existing law sets forth various limits on the number of miles or minutes from the enrollees place of residence, depending on the type of service or specialty and, in some cases, on the county.Existing law authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction as a means of demonstrating compliance with those standards. Existing law authorizes the department, upon request of a Medi-Cal managed care plan, to authorize alternative access standards for those standards under certain conditions, with the request being approved or denied on ZIP Code and provider type basis, as specified.This bill would require the department to conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the above-described time or distance and appointment time standards across all service areas or counties of the state. The bill would require the department to prepare a report of the analysis and to submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026. The bill would repeal the analysis and reporting provisions on January 1, 2030.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 14197.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14197, to read:14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state.(b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026.(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1202Introduced by Assembly Member LackeyFebruary 16, 2023 An act to add and repeal Section 14197.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1202, as introduced, Lackey. Medi-Cal: time or distance standards: childrens health care services.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through various health care delivery systems, including managed care pursuant to Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time or distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified. Existing law sets forth various limits on the number of miles or minutes from the enrollees place of residence, depending on the type of service or specialty and, in some cases, on the county.Existing law authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction as a means of demonstrating compliance with those standards. Existing law authorizes the department, upon request of a Medi-Cal managed care plan, to authorize alternative access standards for those standards under certain conditions, with the request being approved or denied on ZIP Code and provider type basis, as specified.This bill would require the department to conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the above-described time or distance and appointment time standards across all service areas or counties of the state. The bill would require the department to prepare a report of the analysis and to submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026. The bill would repeal the analysis and reporting provisions on January 1, 2030.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1202 Introduced by Assembly Member LackeyFebruary 16, 2023 Introduced by Assembly Member Lackey February 16, 2023 An act to add and repeal Section 14197.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1202, as introduced, Lackey. Medi-Cal: time or distance standards: childrens health care services. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through various health care delivery systems, including managed care pursuant to Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time or distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified. Existing law sets forth various limits on the number of miles or minutes from the enrollees place of residence, depending on the type of service or specialty and, in some cases, on the county.Existing law authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction as a means of demonstrating compliance with those standards. Existing law authorizes the department, upon request of a Medi-Cal managed care plan, to authorize alternative access standards for those standards under certain conditions, with the request being approved or denied on ZIP Code and provider type basis, as specified.This bill would require the department to conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the above-described time or distance and appointment time standards across all service areas or counties of the state. The bill would require the department to prepare a report of the analysis and to submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026. The bill would repeal the analysis and reporting provisions on January 1, 2030. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through various health care delivery systems, including managed care pursuant to Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time or distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified. Existing law sets forth various limits on the number of miles or minutes from the enrollees place of residence, depending on the type of service or specialty and, in some cases, on the county. Existing law authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction as a means of demonstrating compliance with those standards. Existing law authorizes the department, upon request of a Medi-Cal managed care plan, to authorize alternative access standards for those standards under certain conditions, with the request being approved or denied on ZIP Code and provider type basis, as specified. This bill would require the department to conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the above-described time or distance and appointment time standards across all service areas or counties of the state. The bill would require the department to prepare a report of the analysis and to submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026. The bill would repeal the analysis and reporting provisions on January 1, 2030. ## Digest Key ## Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 14197.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14197, to read:14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state.(b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026.(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 14197.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14197, to read:14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state.(b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026.(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. SECTION 1. Section 14197.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14197, to read: ### SECTION 1. 14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state.(b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026.(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. 14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state.(b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026.(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. 14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state.(b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026.(2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. 14197.01. (a) The department shall conduct an analysis to identify the number of Medi-Cal providers needed to ensure adequate access to childrens health care services, through compliance by Medi-Cal managed care plans with the time or distance and appointment time standards described in Section 14197, across all service areas or counties of the state. (b) (1) The department shall prepare a report of the analysis described in subdivision (a) and shall submit the report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026. (2) The report described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.