Plain English Breakdown
While the bill removes the 'federal cost neutrality' requirement, it still requires federal approval and funding availability.
Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver Expansion
This law requires the state health department to add at least 10,000 new spots each year starting in 2027 for a program that helps people stay out of nursing homes.
What This Bill Does
- Removes the old rule limiting expansion to 5,000 additional slots and replaces it with a requirement for at least 10,000 new spots annually starting in 2027.
- Requires the Department of Health Care Services to seek changes by March 1, 2027, so that everyone on the waiting list who is eligible can join the program.
- Removes the requirement for the state to prove 'federal cost neutrality' before expanding these services under existing law.
- Requires an annual report to the Legislature with data on slot numbers, waitlists, and participant demographics.
Who It Names or Affects
- The State Department of Health Care Services
- People currently waiting for a spot in the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver program
- Low-income individuals eligible for Medi-Cal who are at risk of needing nursing facility care
Terms To Know
- Medi-Cal
- California's health insurance program for qualified low-income individuals.
- HCBA Waiver
- A special approval that allows the state to provide home and community care instead of placing people in nursing facilities or hospitals.
- Waiver slots
- The specific number of spots available for individuals to receive services under this program at one time.
Limits and Unknowns
- The state can only expand the program if it gets federal approval and receives funding from the federal government.
- The law does not specify how much money will be needed or where that money will come from to pay for these new slots.