Plain English Breakdown
The source text confirms the bill passed both chambers but does not provide an effective date or Governor's signature status.
California Children's Services Program: Providers and Air Ambulance Rules
This law allows qualified nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurses to join the California Children's Services (CCS) program as independent providers with specific billing rights, while making a technical update to air ambulance cost-sharing rules.
What This Bill Does
- Allows the state department to approve requests from advanced practice providers to become CCS panel members if they meet specified qualifications.
- Requires applicants to submit their application through the official CCS internet website.
- Mandates that the department acknowledge receipt of an application within 5 business days and make a decision (approve, deny, or request more info) within 10 business days.
- Permits approved advanced practice providers to perform initial or continuing care without needing a physician's cosignature for specified professional services.
- Authorizes paneled providers who are enrolled as Medi-Cal ordering, referring, and prescribing only providers to bill Medi-Cal directly for independent office visits and inpatient stays.
- Expands the definition of 'provider' to include physicians certified by their specialty boards, with exceptions when treatment is shared or delegated to family physicians or advanced practice providers.
- Makes a technical, nonsubstantive change to existing laws regarding cost-sharing limits for services from non-contracting air ambulance providers.
Who It Names or Affects
- Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurses seeking CCS panel status.
- Physicians certified by their specialty boards who treat children in the program.
- The State Department of Health Care Services responsible for administering the program.
- Patients covered under health care service plan contracts or insurance policies regarding air ambulance cost-sharing.
Terms To Know
- Advanced Practice Provider
- A nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified registered nurse who meets specified qualifications to provide care independently under this bill.
- CCS Panel
- The list of approved providers authorized by the state department to deliver services under the California Children's Services Program.
- Cosignature
- A signature from a supervising physician that is no longer required for specified professional services once an advanced practice provider is paneled.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill states providers must meet 'specified qualifications' but does not list the exact details of those requirements in this summary.
- The specific text of the technical change to air ambulance provisions is described as nonsubstantive and is not detailed here.
- The effective date of this law is not provided in the source material.