(a) The department, at the time of application or the assessment pursuant to former Section 14006.6, and any nursing facility enrolled as a provider in the Medi-Cal program, before admitting any person, shall provide a clear and simple statement, in writing, in a form and language specified by the department, to that person, and that person’s spouse, legal representative, or agent, if any, that explains the income requirements of the Medi-Cal program, including, but not limited to, certain protections against spousal impoverishment.

(b) This section shall become operative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain operative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 42, Sec. 93. (AB 118) Effective July 10, 2023. Conditionally operative on or after January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)