ARTICLE 2. Definitions [14050. - 14068.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 2.
in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14050.1. Section 14050.1.

For purposes of this chapter, “categorically needy person” means a person whose coverage is mandatory under Title XIX of the Social Security Act including, but not limited to, the individuals covered pursuant to Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14050.2. Section 14050.2.

For the purposes of this chapter “aid” means financial assistance provided to or in behalf of needy persons under the provisions of Chapters 2 (commencing with Section 11200), 3 (commencing with Section 12000), and 5 (commencing with Section 13000) of this part.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14050.3. Section 14050.3.

“A person in long-term care” means a person who is an inpatient in a medical facility for more than the month of admission who is expected to remain for the full month after the month of admission.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14051. Section 14051.

(a) “Medically needy person” means any of the following: (1) An aged, blind, or disabled person who meets the definition of aged, blind, or disabled under the Supplemental Security Income program and whose income and resources are insufficient to provide for the costs of health care or coverage. (2) A child in foster care for whom public agencies are assuming financial responsibility, in whole or in part, or a person receiving aid under Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 16115) of Part 4. (3) A child who is eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits pursuant to interstate agreements for adoption assistance and related services and benefits entered into under Chapter 2.6 (commencing with Section 16170) of Part 4, to the extent federal financial participation is available. (b) “Medically needy family person” means a parent or caretaker relative of a child or a child under 21 years of age or a pregnant woman of any age with a confirmed pregnancy, exclusive of those persons specified in subdivision (a), whose income and resources are insufficient to provide for the costs of health care or coverage. (c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14051.5. Section 14051.5.

(a) “Medically needy person” also means any person who receives in-home supportive services pursuant to Section 12305.5 and whose income is insufficient to provide for the costs of health care or coverage. (b) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14051.7. Section 14051.7.

“Post-eligibility treatment of income” means the determination of long-term care patient liability for each month in which the patient is described in Section 14050.3 or as an institutionalized spouse described in Section 14002.5 determined in accordance with Section 435.725 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, without regard to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of that section, and Sections 435.832, and 435.845 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as appropriate.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14051.8. Section 14051.8.

“Long-term care patient liability” is the term given to the result of the post-eligibility treatment of income calculation under Section 14051.7. The person in long-term care or an institutionalized spouse shall incur or expect to incur an amount of medical expenses that equal this amount pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14005.12.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14052. Section 14052.

“State-only Medi-Cal person” means a person who resides in a nursing facility or any category of intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled, and who meets all of the following requirements: (a) Could not meet the definition of a categorically needy person under Section 14050.1, a medically needy person under subdivision (a) of Section 14051 or a medically needy family person under subdivision (b) of Section 14051. (b) Is over 21 years of age. (c) Meets the eligibility requirements of Section 14005.4.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053. Section 14053.

(a) The term “health care services” means the benefits set forth in Article 4 (commencing with Section 14131) of this chapter and in Section 14021. The term includes inpatient hospital services for any individual under 21 years of age in an institution for mental diseases. Any individual under 21 years of age receiving inpatient psychiatric hospital services immediately preceding the date on which he or she attains age 21 may continue to receive these services until he or she attains age 22. The term also includes early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment for any individual under 21 years of age. (b) The term “health care services” does not include, except to the extent permitted by federal law, any of the following: (1) Care or services for any individual who is an inmate of an institution (except as a patient in a medical institution). (2) Care or services for any individual who has not attained 65 years of age and who is a patient in an institution for tuberculosis. (3) Care or services for any individual who is 21 years of age or over, except as provided in the first paragraph of this section, and has not attained 65 years of age and who is a patient in an institution for mental disease. (4) Inpatient services provided to individuals 21 to 64 years of age, inclusive, in an institution for mental diseases operating under a consolidated license with a general acute care hospital pursuant to Section 1250.8 of the Health and Safety Code, unless federal financial participation is available for such inpatient services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.1. Section 14053.1.

Notwithstanding Section 14053, ancillary outpatient services, pursuant to Section 14132, for any eligible individual who is 21 years of age or over, and has not attained 65 years of age and who is a patient in an institution for mental diseases shall be covered regardless of the availability of federal financial participation.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.3. Section 14053.3.

(a) Except as provided under federal law, federal financial participation reimbursement is not allowed for ancillary services provided to persons residing in facilities that have been found to be institutions for mental disease (IMD), and since, consistent with Part 2 (commencing with Section 5600) of Division 5 and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17600) of Part 5, counties are financially responsible for specialty mental health services and related ancillary services provided to persons through county mental health programs when Medi-Cal reimbursement is not available, when it is determined that Medi-Cal reimbursement has been paid for ancillary services for residents of IMDs, both the federal financial participation reimbursement and any state funds paid for the ancillary services provided to residents of IMDs shall be recovered from counties by the department in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes and regulations. (b) Mental health plans shall report to the department admission and discharge dates for Medi-Cal beneficiaries in institutions for mental diseases on a quarterly basis in a format provided by the department.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.5. Section 14053.5.

For the purposes of the Medi-Cal Act, the terms “prescribed drug” and “prescription drug” shall not include any drug which, because of differing prices charged by the manufacturer on a discriminatory basis or discriminatory refusal to sell by the manufacturer, or both, is not available on the same terms and conditions to all providers of prescription services, or any drug which is found to be overpriced in comparison to another drug which has an equivalent therapeutic effect, unless the director determines that the drug is vital to the program and no acceptable substitute is available. Before the director determines that any drug has an equivalent therapeutic effect in comparison to another drug, or is vital to the program and no acceptable substitute is available, he must have received a report to that effect from the Medi-Cal Contract Drug Advisory Committee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to quantity or other nondiscriminatory discounts available on the same terms and conditions to all providers of prescription services, to sales by competitive bidding to federal, state or local governmental agencies, or to sales to wholesalers so long as the manufacturer does not require or induce the wholesalers to make the drug available other than on the same terms and conditions to all providers of prescription services. This section shall not be construed to deny reimbursement to hospitals for prescribed drugs furnished to inpatients or, unless the regulations provide to the contrary, to registered outpatients.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.6. Section 14053.6.

Prior to including or excluding any drug from the program, the director shall give adequate notice to those California associations of health professionals and those recognized national associations of pharmaceutical manufacturers that are affected by such action and shall seek and consider the advice of those associations.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.7. Section 14053.7.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and only to the extent that federal financial participation is available, the department may provide Medi-Cal eligibility and reimbursement for acute inpatient hospital services available under this chapter in accordance with Section 5072 of the Penal Code. (b) The department may disenroll inmates made eligible for services under this section or in accordance with Section 5072 of the Penal Code from Medi-Cal managed care health plans, and may exempt inmates from enrollment into new or existing plans. (c) Except as provided for in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall be responsible for the nonfederal share of any reimbursement made for the provision of acute inpatient hospital services rendered to inmates who are eligible for and enrolled in a LIHP and receive services pursuant to this section and Section 5072 of the Penal Code. (d) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including Section 11050, the department, as the single state agency, may make eligibility determinations and redeterminations for inmates in accord with this section and Section 5072 of the Penal Code. (2) The department may enroll and disenroll inmates eligible for acute inpatient hospital services under this section or in accord with Section 5072 of the Penal Code in Medi-Cal or in the LIHP in which the inmate’s county of last legal residence participates. (e) (1) In accordance with the requirements and conditions set forth under this section and Section 5072 of the Penal Code, the county may seek from the Medi-Cal program or from the responsible LIHP in which the county participates, reimbursement for the provision of inpatient hospital services to adults involuntarily detained or incarcerated in county facilities. (2) (A) To the extent that a county seeks reimbursement for the provision of acute inpatient hospital services to adults who are involuntarily detained or incarcerated in county facilities and who are otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9, the county shall be responsible for the nonfederal share of the reimbursement. (B) To the extent that a county seeks reimbursement for the provision of acute inpatient hospital services to adults who are involuntarily detained or incarcerated in county facilities and who are otherwise eligible for and enrolled in the LIHP in which the county participates, the LIHP shall be responsible for the nonfederal share of the reimbursement. (f) Reimbursement pursuant to this section shall be limited to only those services for which federal financial participation pursuant to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act is allowed. (g) This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent that existing levels of federal financial participation are not otherwise jeopardized. To the extent that the department determines that existing levels of federal financial participation are jeopardized, this section shall no longer be implemented. (h) The department shall seek any necessary federal approvals for the implementation of this section. This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained. (i) This section shall have no force or effect if there is a final judicial determination made by any state or federal court that is not appealed, or by a court of appellate jurisdiction that is not further appealed, in any action by any party, or a final determination by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that disallows, defers, or alters the implementation of this section or in accord with Section 5072 of the Penal Code, including the rate methodology or payment process established by the department that limits or affects the department’s authority to select the hospitals used to provide acute inpatient hospital services to inmates. (j) It is the intent of the Legislature that the implementation of this section will result in state General Fund savings for the funding of acute inpatient hospital services provided to inmates and any related administrative costs. (k) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may, without taking any further regulatory action, implement this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions. (l) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) The term “county of last legal residence” means the county in which the inmate resided at the time of arrest that resulted in conviction and incarceration in a state prison facility. (2) The term “inmate” means an adult who is involuntarily residing in a state prison facility operated, administered or regulated, directly or indirectly, by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.8. Section 14053.8.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall develop a process to allow counties to receive any available federal financial participation for acute inpatient hospital services and inpatient psychiatric services provided to juvenile inmates who are admitted as inpatients in a medical institution off the grounds of the correctional facility, and who, but for their institutional status as inmates, are otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal benefits pursuant to this chapter. This process shall be coordinated, to the extent possible, with the processes and procedures established pursuant to Section 14053.7 of this code and Section 5072 of the Penal Code. This section shall not be construed to alter or abrogate any obligation of the state pursuant to an administrative action or a court order that is final and no longer subject to appeal to reimburse counties for any acute inpatient hospital services or inpatient psychiatric services provided to a juvenile inmate. (b) A juvenile inmate who is an inpatient in a medical institution off the grounds of the correctional facility shall not be denied eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits under this section because of his or her institutional status as an inmate of a public institution. (c) The department shall consult with counties in the development of the process pursuant to this section. (d) This section shall not be construed to limit the department’s authority to suspend or terminate Medi-Cal eligibility pursuant to Section 14011.10, except during such times that the juvenile inmate is receiving acute inpatient hospital services or inpatient psychiatric services pursuant to subdivision (b). (e) This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent that existing levels of federal financial participation are not otherwise jeopardized. To the extent that the department determines that existing levels of federal financial participation are jeopardized, this section shall no longer be implemented. (f) The department shall seek any federal approvals necessary to implement the process developed pursuant to this section. This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent that any necessary federal approvals have been obtained, and only to the extent that federal financial participation is available. (g) Notwithstanding any other law, as part of the process developed pursuant to this section, the department may exempt juvenile inmates from enrollment into new or existing managed care health plans. (h) The process developed pursuant to this section shall be implemented in only those counties that elect to provide the county’s pro rata portion of the nonfederal share of the state’s administrative costs associated with implementation of this section and the nonfederal share of expenditures for acute inpatient hospital services and inpatient psychiatric services provided to eligible juvenile inmates described in subdivision (a). (i) (1) The federal financial participation received pursuant to the process implemented under this section shall be paid to the participating counties for services rendered to the juvenile inmates. If a federal audit disallowance and interest results from claims made under the process created pursuant to this section, the department shall recoup from the county that received the disallowed funds the amount of the disallowance and any applicable interest. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that implementation of this section will result in no increased cost to the state General Fund. (j) (1) If there is a final judicial determination made by any state or federal court that is not appealed, or by a court of appellate jurisdiction that is not further appealed, in any action by any party, or a final determination by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), that disallows, defers, or alters the implementation of this section or, to the extent applicable, Section 14053.7 of this code or Section 5072 of the Penal Code, including the rate methodology or payment process established by the department that limits or affects the department’s authority to select the facilities used to provide acute inpatient hospital services and inpatient psychiatric services to juvenile inmates, then any provision of this section that is inconsistent with the final judicial or CMS determination shall have no force or effect. (2) In addition, the department may, at its discretion, cease to implement any other part of this section that is implicated by the final judicial or CMS determination. (k) For the purposes of Medi-Cal eligibility pursuant to this section, “juvenile inmate” means an individual under 21 years of age who is involuntarily residing in a public institution, including state and local institutions. (l) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may, without taking any further regulatory action, implement this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14053.9. Section 14053.9.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall develop a process to allow the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Facilities, or any successor, to receive any available federal financial participation for acute inpatient hospital services and inpatient psychiatric services provided to any juvenile inmates in the Division of Juvenile Facilities who are admitted as inpatients in a medical institution off the grounds of the correctional facility, and who, but for their institutional status as juvenile inmates, are otherwise eligible for Medi-Cal benefits pursuant to this chapter. This process shall be coordinated, to the extent possible, with the processes and procedures established pursuant to Section 14053.7 of this code and Section 5072 of the Penal Code. (b) Any juvenile inmate in the Division of Juvenile Facilities who is an inpatient in a medical institution off the grounds of the correctional facility shall not be denied eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits under this section because of his or her institutional status as an inmate in the Division of Juvenile Facilities. (c) The department shall consult with the Division of Juvenile Facilities in the development of the process pursuant to this section. (d) The department shall seek any federal approvals necessary to implement the process developed pursuant to this section. This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent that any necessary federal approvals have been obtained, and only to the extent that federal financial participation is available. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, as part of the process developed pursuant to this section, the department may exempt any juvenile inmate in a facility operated by the Division of Juvenile Facilities from enrollment into new or existing managed care health plans. (f) The process developed pursuant to this section shall be implemented only to the extent that the Division of Juvenile Facilities agrees voluntarily to provide the nonfederal share of any costs to the department associated with the administration of this section and the nonfederal share of expenditures for acute inpatient hospital services and inpatient psychiatric services provided off the grounds of the correctional facility to any juvenile inmate of the Division of Juvenile Facilities who is eligible for Medi-Cal benefits pursuant to this section. (g) The federal financial participation received pursuant to this section shall be paid to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for services rendered to any juvenile inmate in the Division of Juvenile Facilities. (h) Reimbursement pursuant to this section shall be limited to only those services for which federal financial participation is available. (i) (1) If there is a final judicial determination made by any state or federal court that is not appealed, or by a court of appellate jurisdiction that is not further appealed, in any action by any party, or a final determination by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), that disallows, defers, or alters the implementation of this section or, to the extent applicable, Section 14053.7 of this code or Section 5072 of the Penal Code, including the rate methodology or payment process established by the department that limits or affects the department’s authority to select the facilities used to provide acute inpatient hospital services and inpatient psychiatric services to juvenile inmates in the Division of Juvenile Facilities, then any provision of this section that is inconsistent with the final judicial or CMS determination shall have no force or effect. (2) In addition, the department may, at its discretion, cease to implement any other part of this section that is implicated by the final judicial or CMS determination. (j) For the purposes of Medi-Cal eligibility pursuant to this section, “juvenile inmate” means an individual under 21 years of age who is involuntarily residing in a public institution, including state and local institutions. (k) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may, without taking any further regulatory action, implement this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14054. Section 14054.

(a) “Share of cost” or “spend down of excess income” means the amount of the costs of health care that a person or family eligible under Section 14005.4 or 14005.7 shall incur prior to being certified by the department as specified in Section 14018. (b) Upon the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, any reference to “share of cost” in this chapter or elsewhere in this code that relates to an individual Medi-Cal beneficiary’s or applicant’s eligibility under the medically needy persons or medically needy family persons categories shall be read as “spend down of excess income” and the definition in subdivision (a) shall apply.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14055. Section 14055.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, “caretaker relative” means a relative of a dependent child by blood, adoption, or marriage with whom the child is living, who assumes primary responsibility for the child’s care, and who is one of the following: (1) The child’s father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, great grandparent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, great-great grandparent, great uncle or aunt, first cousin, great-great-great grandparent, great-great uncle or aunt, or first cousin once removed. (2) The spouse or registered domestic partner of one of the relatives identified in paragraph (1), even after the marriage is terminated by death or divorce or the domestic partnership has been legally terminated. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14056. Section 14056.

“Minimum coverage” means prescribed drugs for public assistance recipients as established by the director, and care or coverage specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (10) of Section 14053, except that it shall not include elective services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14057. Section 14057.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, “insurance affordability program” means a program that is one of the following: (1) The state’s Medi-Cal program under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.). (2) The state’s children’s health insurance program (CHIP) under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1397aa et seq.). (3) A program that makes available to qualified applicants coverage in a qualified health plan through the California Health Benefit Exchange, established pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, with advance payment of the premium tax credit established under Section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code. (4) A program that makes available coverage in a qualified health plan through the California Health Benefit Exchange, established pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, with cost-sharing reductions established under Section 1402 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), and any subsequent amendments to that act. (b) This section shall become operative on October 1, 2013.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14057.5. Section 14057.5.

“Contract hospital” means a nonprofit medical facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, with which the board of supervisors of a county which does not maintain a county hospital has executed a contract, currently in effect, to care for medically indigent individuals.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14059. Section 14059.

Health care provided under this chapter may include diagnostic, preventive, corrective, and curative services and supplies essential thereto, provided by qualified medical and related personnel for conditions that cause suffering, endanger life, result in illness or infirmity, interfere with capacity for normal activity including employment, or for conditions which may develop into some significant handicap. Medical care shall include, but is not limited to, other remedial care, not necessarily medical. Other remedial care shall include, without being limited to, treatment by prayer or healing by spiritual means in the practice of the religion of any church or religious denomination.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14059.5. Section 14059.5.

(a) For individuals 21 years of age or older, a service is “medically necessary” or a “medical necessity” when it is reasonable and necessary to protect life, to prevent significant illness or significant disability, or to alleviate severe pain. (b) (1) For individuals under 21 years of age, a service is “medically necessary” or a “medical necessity” if the service meets the standards set forth in Section 1396d(r)(5) of Title 42 of the United States Code. (2) The department and its contractors shall update any model evidence of coverage documents, beneficiary handbooks, and related material to ensure the medical necessity standard for coverage for individuals under 21 years of age is accurately reflected in all materials. (3) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, and make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan provider bulletins, manuals, plan contract amendments, or similar instructions until regulations are revised or adopted. (4) By July 1, 2022, the department shall revise or adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. This paragraph shall not apply to a Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 14184.101. (c) This section shall not be construed to limit the application of subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 51184 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. (d) Medical necessity for covered benefits provided in a Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 14184.101, shall also be governed in accordance with Section 14184.402.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14060. Section 14060.

Every recipient who is entitled to visual care under this chapter, which may be rendered either by an optometrist or a physician, may select a duly licensed member of either profession to render the service.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14064. Section 14064.

(a) Inpatient intensive rehabilitation hospital services shall consist of programs for: (1) Strengthening and training of selected muscle groups. (2) Preservation and restoration of joint mobility (prevention and correction of contractures). (3) Training in application and use of equipment. (4) Training in activities of daily living, self-care, locomotion and homemaking skills. (5) Cognitive reorganization and communication skills. (6) Resolution of psychological and social problems which are impeding rehabilitation. (b) These programs shall use a multidiscipline approach carried out under the general or direct supervision of a physician with special training or experience in the field of rehabilitation. When medically indicated, a program of this scope includes but is not limited to: (1) Skilled rehabilitation nursing care. (2) Physical therapy. (3) Occupational therapy. (4) Speech therapy. (5) Prosthetic or orthotic services. (6) Psychologist services. (7) Medical social worker services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14065. Section 14065.

As used in this chapter, Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 14500), and Chapter 8.7 (commencing with Section 14520) of this part, the terms “Director of Health” and “Director of Benefit Payments” shall be construed to refer to and mean the State Director of Health Services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14066. Section 14066.

As used in this chapter, Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 14500), and Chapter 8.7 (commencing with Section 14520) of this part, the terms “Department of Health,” “State Department of Health,” “Department of Benefit Payments,” and “State Department of Benefit Payments” shall be construed to refer to and mean the State Department of Health Services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14067. Section 14067.

(a) The department, in conjunction with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, may develop and conduct a community outreach and education campaign to help families learn about, and apply for, Medi-Cal and the Healthy Families Program of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, subject to the requirements of federal law. In conducting this campaign, the department may seek input from, and contract with, various entities and programs that serve children, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Education, counties, Women, Infants, and Children program agencies, Head Start and Healthy Start programs, and community-based organizations that deal with potentially eligible families and children to assist in the outreach, education, and application completion process. The department shall implement the campaign if funding is provided for this purpose by an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other statute. (b) In implementing this section, the department may amend any existing or future media outreach campaign contract that it has entered into pursuant to Section 14148.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any such contract entered into, or amended, as required to implement this section, shall be exempt from the approval of the Director of General Services and from the provisions of the Public Contract Code. (c) (1) The department, in conjunction with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, may award contracts to community-based organizations to help families learn about, and enroll in, the Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program, and other health care programs for low-income children. The department shall implement this subdivision if funding is provided for this purpose by an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other statute. (2) Contracts for these outreach and enrollment projects shall be awarded based on, but not limited to, all of the following criteria: (A) Capacity to reach populations or geographic areas with disproportionately low enrollment rates. If it is not possible to estimate the number of uninsured children in a geographic area who are eligible for the Medi-Cal program or the Healthy Families Program, proxy measures for rates of eligible children may be used. These measures may include, but are not limited to, the number of children in families with gross annual household incomes at or below the federal poverty levels pertinent to the programs. (B) Organizational capacity and experience, including, but not limited to, any of the following: (i) Organizational experience in serving low-income families. (ii) Ability to work effectively with populations that have disproportionately low enrollment rates. (iii) Organizational experiences in helping families learn about, and enroll in, the Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program. Organizations that do not have experience helping families learn about, and enroll in, the Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program shall be eligible only to the extent that they support and collaborate with the outreach and enrollment activities of entities with that experience. (C) Effectiveness of the outreach and education plan, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (i) Culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach and education strategies. (ii) Strategies to identify and address barriers to enrollment, such as transportation limitations and community perceptions regarding the Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program. (iii) Coordination with other outreach efforts in the community, including the statewide Healthy Families Program and Medi-Cal program outreach campaign, the state and federally funded county Medi-Cal outreach program, and any other Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program outreach projects in the target community. (iv) Collaboration with other local organizations that serve families of eligible children. (v) Strategies to ensure that children and families retain coverage and are informed of options for health coverage and services when they lose eligibility for a particular program. (vi) Plans to inform families about all available health care programs and services.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14067.3. Section 14067.3.

(a) (1) The department may maintain an allocation program for the management and funding of county outreach and enrollment plans to enroll and retain eligible children in the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in a manner that the director shall provide, the department may allocate an amount to fund county outreach and enrollment plans identified in this section. (b) (1) The sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in the 2006–07 fiscal year, and thereafter adjusted proportionately on a pro rata basis contingent upon the annual appropriation, but not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000), shall be set aside, from the annual allocation for purposes of this section, for counties identified in subdivision (d). (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the total of all county allocations made pursuant to this section shall not exceed the annual appropriation for the implementation of this section. (c) The director shall make allocations to not more than 20 counties that have the highest number of children who appear to be eligible for the Medi-Cal program or the Healthy Families Program, as determined by the director, but who are not currently enrolled in either program, and the highest number of Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program cases for children. This number shall be weighted to emphasize those who appear eligible, but are not currently enrolled in the programs. (d) With funds set aside under paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the director shall make allocations to those counties that have an existing infrastructure for outreach, enrollment, retention, and utilization, and that can demonstrate they have well established and documented county coalitions for children’s coverage with organizations such as community-based organizations, schools, clinics, labor organizations, and other safety net providers in place for at least 12 months. (e) (1) To obtain an allocation authorized under this section, a county shall submit an allocation plan, which shall include an outreach and enrollment plan, as outlined in paragraph (2). The director shall establish the procedures and format for submission to the department of all county allocation plans. (2) The following shall constitute the minimum components required of a county outreach and enrollment plan: (A) An active collaboration with a wide range of organizations, such as community-based organizations, schools, clinics, labor organizations, and other safety net providers. (B) A streamlined application assistance process. (C) Establishment of an oversight, performance management, and review program to ensure that the outreach and enrollment plan submitted by the county is properly implemented and administered. (D) A description of each of the following: (i) The amount of the current funding and funding source for application, enrollment, retention, and utilization activities. (ii) The current application, enrollment, retention, and utilization activities. (iii) How the allocation funds awarded under this section will be used to supplement and not supplant existing application, enrollment, retention, and utilization activities. (E) A detailed proposed budget of all expenditures for the relevant fiscal year or years for the county’s outreach and enrollment plan activities, expenses, services, materials, and support. (f) Counties receiving an allocation under this section shall provide reports to the department, as determined by the department, on the progress made in achieving the objectives of the allocation plan. (g) (1) The funds allocated under this section shall be used only for outreach, enrollment, retention, and utilization. The funds allocated under this section may supplement, but shall not supplant, existing local, state, and foundation funding of county outreach, enrollment, retention, and utilization activities. Notwithstanding Section 10744, the department may recoup or withhold all or part of a county’s allocation for failure to comply with the standards set forth in the county’s outreach and enrollment plan upon which the allocation was based. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, any acquisitions made with funds allocated under this section shall be made in compliance with federal law. (h) Reimbursements for costs incurred under the allocation plan authorized under this section shall be made in arrears and in a manner as provided by the director. The allocations may be used only to fund activities provided in each of the designated fiscal years and in accordance with the county’s approved outreach and enrollment plan and budget for the fiscal year. (i) As authorized by the director, on a case by case basis, funds allocated pursuant to this section may be used to support automated enrollment of children in the Medi-Cal program or the Healthy Families Program. Funds under this subdivision shall further the goal of increasing the enrollment of uninsured children, as well as increasing the retention of children, in the Medi-Cal program and Healthy Families Program in the same fiscal year for which the funds are allocated. (j) The department and the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board shall seek approval of any amendments to the state plan necessary to implement this section for purposes of funding under Titles XIX and XXI of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 1396 et seq. and 1397aa et seq., respectively). This section shall be implemented only when federal approvals have been obtained and only to the extent federal financial participation is available. (k) The department shall reimburse a county pursuant to this section in lieu of commencing a cooperative agreement or contract with a county for the operation of an outreach program. (l) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all county letters, provider bulletins, or similar instructions. (m) For the purposes of this section, “county outreach and enrollment plan” means a county outreach program designed to identify and enroll children who are eligible either for the Healthy Families Program or the Medi-Cal program, but are not currently enrolled in either program, and to facilitate the retention of eligible children currently enrolled in these programs.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14067.5. Section 14067.5.

The department shall encourage counties to outstation additional Medi-Cal eligibility workers in nontraditional sites, such as schools, private hospitals, clinics, mental health centers, sites providing services under California Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children sites, and community-based organizations. The department shall permit counties to redirect a portion of existing funding for Medi-Cal eligibility administration for this purpose. The department shall require counties that redirect funds to provide an annual report on the cost of the additional outstationed workers and their effectiveness in increasing or facilitating Medi-Cal enrollment. Expenditures under this section shall be subject to the availability of federal financial participation, and shall not cause an increase in the allocation of funds for the administration of the Medi-Cal program.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 14068. Section 14068.

In conducting outreach activities for the enrollment of special needs populations into a Medi-Cal managed care program, the department and its contractors, as deemed applicable by the department, shall work with state, local, and regional organizations with the ability to target low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities in the communities where they live. This shall include, but not be limited to, all applicable state departments that serve these individuals, regional centers, seniors’ organizations, local health consumer centers, and other consumer-focused organizations that are engaging in providing assistance to this population.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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