(a) (1) After the director determines, and communicates that determination in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation of this section, but no sooner than May 1, 2016, an individual who is under 19 years of age and who does not have satisfactory immigration status or is unable to establish satisfactory immigration status as required by Section 14011.2 shall be eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if they are otherwise eligible for benefits under this chapter.
(2) (A) An individual under 19 years of age enrolled in Medi-Cal pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14007.5 at the time the director makes the determination described in paragraph (1) shall be enrolled in the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if otherwise eligible, pursuant to an eligibility and enrollment plan. This plan shall include outreach strategies developed by the department in consultation with interested stakeholders, including, but not limited to, counties, health care service plans, consumer advocates, and the Legislature. An individual subject to this subparagraph shall not be required to file a new application for Medi-Cal.
(B) The effective date of enrollment into Medi-Cal for an individual described in subparagraph (A) shall be on the same day on which the systems are operational to begin processing new applications pursuant to the director’s determination described in paragraph (1).
(C) Beginning January 31, 2016, and until the director makes the determination described in paragraph (1), the department shall provide monthly updates to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on the status of the implementation of this section.
(b) After the director determines, and communicates that determination in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation of this subdivision, but no sooner than July 1, 2019, an individual who is 19 to 25 years of age, inclusive, and who does not have satisfactory immigration status or is unable to establish satisfactory immigration status as required by Section 14011.2 shall be eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if they are otherwise eligible for benefits under this chapter.
(c) If in determining the projected budget condition for the upcoming fiscal year, the Department of Finance projects a positive ending balance in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties for the upcoming fiscal year and each of the ensuing three fiscal years that exceeds the cost of providing individuals who are 65 years of age or older, and who do not have satisfactory immigration statuses or are unable to establish satisfactory immigration statuses as required by Section 14011.2 for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, if they are otherwise eligible for benefits under this chapter, such benefits to such individuals shall be prioritized for inclusion in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
(d) To the extent permitted by state and federal law, an individual eligible under this section shall be required to enroll in a Medi-Cal managed care health plan. Enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care health plan shall not preclude a beneficiary from being enrolled in any other children’s Medi-Cal specialty program that they would otherwise be eligible for.
(e) (1) The department shall maximize federal financial participation in implementing this section to the extent allowable, and, for purposes of implementing this section, the department shall claim federal financial participation to the extent that the department determines it is available.
(2) To the extent that federal financial participation is not available, the department shall implement this section using state funds appropriated for this purpose.
(f) This section shall be implemented only to the extent it is in compliance with Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code.
(g) (1) 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, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary regulations are adopted. Thereafter, the department shall 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.
(2) Commencing six months after the effective date of this section, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted.
(h) In implementing this section, the department may contract, as necessary, on a bid or nonbid basis. This subdivision establishes an accelerated process for issuing contracts pursuant to this section. Those contracts, and any other contracts entered into pursuant to this subdivision, may be on a noncompetitive bid basis and shall be exempt from the following:
(1) Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code and any policies, procedures, or regulations authorized by that part.
(2) Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(3) Review or approval of contracts by the Department of General Services.
(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 12, Sec. 48. (AB 80) Effective June 29, 2020.)