CA SB 1252

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Description

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth different mechanisms for health care coverage for individuals, including the Medi-Cal program, the federal Medicare Program, an employer-sponsored plan, and a plan through the California Health Benefit Exchange, also known as Covered California. Existing law imposes various taxes on residents, such as sales and use taxes and personal income tax, and authorizes cities and counties to impose local sales and use taxes in conformity with the Sales and Use Tax Law. This bill would state that every person who is a resident subject to a tax and whose income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level using the modified adjusted gross income methodology, as specified, is entitled to access to the public health care coverage their tax dollars support. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to ensure that these individuals have access to public health care coverage through programs it administers, including Medi-Cal. To the extent that these provisions would alter the population of beneficiaries for Medi-Cal, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make related findings and declarations. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.