CA SB 1511
Title: Health omnibus.
Author: Senate Health Committee
Summary
SB 1511, as amended, Committee on Health. Health omnibus. (1) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law defines a “group contract,” for purposes of the act, as a contract that by its terms limits the eligibility of subscribers and enrollees to a specified group.This bill would clarify that reference to a “group” in the act does not include a Medi-Cal managed care contract between a health care service plan and the State Department of Health Care Services to provide benefits to beneficiaries of the Medi-Cal program.(2) Existing law, the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act or Ryan’s Law, requires specified health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, as defined, subject to certain restrictions. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to enforce the act. Existing law prohibits a general acute care hospital, as specified, from permitting a patient with a chronic disease to use medicinal cannabis.This bill would authorize a general acute care hospital to allow a terminally ill patient, as defined, to use medicinal cannabis.(3) Existing law establishes the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, administered by the Department of Health Care Access and Information, in order to provide interest-free cashflow loans to not-for-profit hospitals and public hospitals in significant financial distress or to governmental entities representing a closed hospital, except as otherwise provided, to prevent the closure of, or facilitate the reopening of, those hospitals. Existing law establishes the Distressed Hospital Loan Program Fund, with moneys in the fund being continuously appropriated for the department. Existing law authorizes the Department of Finance to transfer up to $150,000,000 from the General Fund and $150,000,000 from the Medi-Cal Provider Payment Reserve Fund to the Distressed Hospital Loan Program Fund in state fiscal year 2023–24 to implement the program. Existing law requires any funds transferred to be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2026.This bill would instead require any funds transferred to be available for encumbrance or expenditure until December 31, 2031. By extending the amount of time continuously appropriated funds are available for encumbrance and expenditure, this bill would make an appropriation.(4) 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 by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes the Administrative Claiming process under which the department is authorized to contract with local governmental agencies and local educational consortia for the purpose of obtaining federal matching funds to assist with the performance of administrative activities relating to the Medi-Cal program that are provided by a local governmental agency or local educational agency (LEA).Existing law requires the department to engage in specified activities relating to the LEA Medi-Cal Billing Option, including amending the Medicaid state plan to ensure that schools are reimbursed for all eligible services, consulting with specified entities in formulating state plan amendments, examining methodologies for increasing school participation in the LEA Medi-Cal Billing Option, and conducting an audit of a Medi-Cal Billing Option claim consistent with prescribed requirements, such as generally accepted accounting principles. Existing law requires the department to issue and regularly maintain a program guide for the LEA Medi-Cal Billing Option program. Existing law requires the department to file an annual report with the Legislature that includ
Status
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
Bill Documents
CA SB 1511 - 04/09/24 - Amended Senate
04/09/24 - CA SB 1511 (04/09/24 - Amended Senate)
CA SB 1511 - 02/21/24 - Introduced
02/21/24 - CA SB 1511 (02/21/24 - Introduced)