(a) The sheriff, or his or her designee, has the authority, after conferring with a physician who has oversight for providing medical care at a county jail, or that physician’s designee, to release from a county correctional facility, a prisoner sentenced to a county jail if the sheriff determines that the prisoner would not reasonably pose a threat to public safety and the prisoner, upon diagnosis by the examining physician, is deemed to have a life expectancy of six months or less.

(b) Before the release of any prisoner pursuant to this section, the sheriff shall notify the presiding judge of the superior court of his or her intention to release the prisoner. This notification shall include:

(1) The prisoner’s name.

(2) The offense or offenses for which the prisoner was incarcerated, if applicable, and the pending charges, if applicable.

(3) The date of sentence, if applicable.

(4) The physician’s diagnosis of the prisoner’s condition.

(5) The physician’s prognosis for the prisoner’s recovery.

(6) The prisoner’s address after release.

(c) (1) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that a county that releases a prisoner pursuant to this section does both of the following:

(A) Sends a letter to the State Department of Health Care Services agreeing to do both of the following:

(i) Notify the State Department of Health Care Services, in writing, when a prisoner released pursuant to this section has applied for Medi-Cal.

(ii) Notify the State Department of Health Care Services, in writing, if a prisoner released pursuant to this section, who is Medi-Cal eligible, is returned to the custody of the sheriff.

(B) For the period of time that the offender would otherwise have been incarcerated:

(i) Reimburses the State Department of Health Care Services for the nonfederal share of the Medi-Cal costs and any medical costs paid by the State Department of Health Care Services that are not reimbursable pursuant to Title XIX or XXI of the federal Social Security Act, for an offender released pursuant to this section.

(ii) Provides to the State Department of Health Care Services the nonfederal share of the state’s administrative costs associated with this section.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the implementation of this section shall not result in increased costs to the General Fund.

(3) Participation in the program under this section is voluntary for purposes of all applicable federal law. This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation for the Medi-Cal program is not jeopardized.

(d) Before a prisoner’s compassionate release from a county jail pursuant to this section, the sheriff, or his or her designee, shall secure a placement option for the prisoner in the community and, in consultation with the county welfare department or another applicable county agency, examine the prisoner’s eligibility for federal Medicaid benefits or other medical coverage that might assist in funding the prisoner’s medical treatment while in the community.

(e) (1) For any prisoner released pursuant to this section who is eligible for Medi-Cal, the county shall continue to pay the nonfederal share of the prisoner’s Medi-Cal costs for the period of time that the offender would have otherwise been incarcerated.

(2) For any prisoner granted compassionate release pursuant to this section who is ineligible for Medi-Cal, the county shall consider whether the prisoner has private medical insurance or sufficient income or assets to provide for his or her own medical care. If the county determines that the prisoner can provide for his or her own medical care, the county shall not be required to provide the prisoner with medical care.

(f) This section shall not be construed as authorizing the sheriff to refuse to receive and incarcerate a defendant or sentenced individual who is not in need of immediate medical care or who has a terminal medical condition.

(g) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Health Care Services may exempt individuals released pursuant to this section from mandatory enrollment in managed health care, including county-organized health plans and, as deemed necessary by the State Department of Health Care Services, may determine the proper prior authorization process for individuals who have been released pursuant to this section.

(h) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2, the State Department of Health Care Services, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, and make specific this section by means of provider bulletins, all-county letters, manuals, or similar instructions until the time that regulations are adopted. Thereafter, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2. Six months after the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, the department shall provide a status update to the Legislature on its efforts to adopt the regulations. Thereafter, notwithstanding Section 10231.5, the department shall report on the status of this effort to the Legislature on an annual basis, until the regulations have been adopted.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 23, Sec. 3. (AB 82) Effective June 27, 2013.)