Bill > SB833

This bill makes several changes to health and safety laws, primarily related to the Medi-Cal program and public health initiatives. It extends the timeframe for emergency regulations related to the California Health Benefit Exchange (the Exchange) to remain in effect for five years, and it establishes a grant program for local health departments and community organizations to provide Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, to first responders and at-risk individuals. The bill also continuously appropriates funds for the Long-Term Care Quality Assurance Fund, expands drug treatment programs to include HIV-negative individuals prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, and removes the requirement for a cost-savings determination before subsidizing certain costs for individuals with existing drug coverage. Additionally, it mandates the purchase and distribution of hepatitis B and C materials, allocates funds for Alzheimer's disease diagnostic and treatment centers, and revises provisions related to the Office of Health Information Integrity's role in HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance. The bill also extends the authority of the State Department of Health Care Services to seek recovery of Medi-Cal costs from estates indefinitely, expands mental health services for children and youth, modifies Medi-Cal pharmacy reimbursement for dispensing fees, restores acupuncture as a covered Medi-Cal benefit, and clarifies the intent regarding cost-of-doing-business adjustments for county Medi-Cal administrative operations. Furthermore, it alters the notification process for emergency medical air transportation services after penalty assessments end, revises Medi-Cal estate recovery to align with federal requirements and protect surviving registered domestic partners, increases the General Fund allocation for Medi-Cal Electronic Health Records incentive program administrative costs, and allows for contracted services to assist individuals transitioning out of Medi-Cal due to behavioral health treatment coverage changes. The bill also adjusts Medi-Cal pharmacy dispensing fees and reimbursement for physician-administered drugs, modifies reimbursement for blood factors, and restores acupuncture as a covered Medi-Cal benefit. Finally, it revises the Medi-Cal estate recovery process to align with federal mandates, limits estate claims to specific circumstances, protects surviving registered domestic partners, and allows for waivers on modest homesteads, while also updating administrative cost controls for county Medi-Cal operations and modifying reimbursement for emergency medical air transportation. The bill also makes changes to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program, including updating capitation rate methodologies and allowing for broader contract eligibility, and it makes various technical and conforming changes, including repealing obsolete provisions.