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Staff Summary: Implements key provisions of federal health care reform by expanding eligibility for Medi-Cal coverage. Necessary to draw down additional federal matching funds. Despite the fact that these funds are likely to be swept into the General Fund, their absence would only trigger additional cuts in state support for Medi-Cal programs. The lesser of two evils. One key element that must be addressed is that the bill only allows county owned and operated public hospitals to become "Medical Homes." This legislation needs to be amended to permit "non-designated" public hospitals owned and operated by Health Care Districts to be designated as "Medical Homes" as defined in this proposal. The bill is currently still in "intent" form, and as such is a spot bill. The author's office indicates that amendments are pending, but they have yet to be posted for public review. The official history shows that the bill was amended in it's last policy committee on 6/30, but apparently the amendments were not put across the desk prior to the Legislature going on recess. Based on the Health Committee analysis, committee staff was requesting amendments that would address our concerns. |