(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rates for reimbursing specialty mental health and substance use disorder services allowable under the Medi-Cal program and rendered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries shall continue to be based on the upper limits allowable under federal law and regulations for services provided prior to July 1, 1980, on the lower of reasonable cost and customary charges for services provided July 1, 1980, through June 30, 1982, and on the lowest of reasonable cost, customary charges, and rates paid by the Medi-Cal program for services provided July 1, 1982, through June 30, 1984.
(b) The Legislature hereby states and declares that this section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law and that rates for reimbursing specialty mental health and substance use disorder services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries under the Medi-Cal program in previous fiscal years were based upon the lower of reasonable costs or customary charges.
(c) The department shall promulgate emergency regulations relating to claims submission and establishing rates and a ratesetting methodology for determining reimbursement of specialty mental health and substance use disorder services allowable under the Medi-Cal program and rendered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The methodology and rates shall reflect the most recently completed cost reports and shall be effective commencing July 1, 1984.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, rates for reimbursing specialty mental health services allowable under the Medi-Cal program and rendered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries shall be effective from July 1 through June 30 of the fiscal year in which these rates are established.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, rates for reimbursing substance use disorder services allowable under the Medi-Cal program and rendered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries shall be effective from July 1 through June 30 of the fiscal year in which these rates are established.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 34, Sec. 224. (SB 1009) Effective June 27, 2012. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 254 of Ch. 34.)