(a) The department shall establish standards of financial eligibility for treatment services under the California Children’s Services Program (CCS program).
(1) Financial eligibility for treatment services under this program shall be limited to persons in families with an adjusted gross income of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or less in the most recent tax year, as calculated for California state income tax purposes. If a person is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program pursuant to Section 14005.26 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or enrolled in the Medi-Cal Access Program pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15810) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the financial documentation required to establish eligibility for the respective programs may be used instead of the person’s California state income tax return. However, the director may authorize treatment services for persons in families with higher incomes if the estimated cost of care to the family in one year is expected to exceed 20 percent of the family’s adjusted gross income.
(2) Children enrolled in the Medi-Cal program pursuant to Section 14005.26 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or the Medi-Cal Access Program pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15810) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, who have a CCS program eligible medical condition under Section 123830, and whose families do not meet the financial eligibility requirements of paragraph (1), shall be deemed financially eligible for CCS program benefits.
(b) Necessary medical therapy treatment services under the California Children’s Services Program rendered in the public schools shall be exempt from financial eligibility standards and enrollment fee requirements for the services when rendered to any handicapped child whose educational or physical development would be impeded without the services.
(c) All counties shall use the uniform standards for financial eligibility and enrollment fees established by the department. All enrollment fees shall be used in support of the California Children’s Services Program.
(d) Annually, every family with a child eligible to receive services under this article shall pay a fee of twenty dollars ($20), that shall be in addition to any other program fees for which the family is liable. This assessment shall not apply to any child who is eligible for full scope Medi-Cal benefits without a share of cost, for children receiving therapy through the California Children’s Services Program as a related service in their individualized education plans, for children from families having incomes of less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level, or for children covered under the Medi-Cal program pursuant to Section 14005.26 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or the Medi-Cal Access Program.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 733, Sec. 3. (SB 1477) Effective January 1, 2017.)