A Medi-Cal managed care plan serving children and youth with CCS-eligible conditions under the CCS program shall do all of the following:

(a) Coordinate with each regional center operating within the plan’s service area to assist CCS-eligible children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families in understanding and accessing services and act as a central point of contact for questions related to health care access and care concerns, and problem resolution.

(b) Coordinate with the local CCS Medical Therapy Unit (MTU) to ensure appropriate access to MTU services. The Medi-Cal managed care plan shall enter into a memorandum of understanding or similar agreement with the county regarding coordination of MTU services and other non-MTU services provided by the plan.

(c) Ensure that families have access to ongoing information, education, and support so they understand the care plan, course of treatment, and expected outcomes for their child or youth, the assessment process, what it means, their role in the process, and what services their child or youth may be eligible for.

(d) Facilitate communication among a CCS child’s or youth’s health care and personal care providers, including in-home supportive services and behavioral health providers, when appropriate, with the CCS-eligible child or youth, parent, or guardian.

(e) Facilitate timely access to primary care, specialty care, pharmacy, and other health services provided by CCS providers and facilities with clinical expertise in treating the enrollee’s specific CCS condition that are needed by the CCS child or youth, including referrals to address any physical or cognitive disabilities.

(f) Provide information for families about managed care processes and how to navigate a health plan, including their rights to appeal any service denials, and how to request continuity of care for pharmacy, specialized durable medical equipment, and health care providers pursuant to Section 14094.13.

(g) Establish a mechanism to provide information on how to access local family resource centers or family empowerment centers.

(h) Provide that communication to, and services for, the CCS-eligible children or youth and their families are available in alternative formats that are culturally, linguistically, and physically appropriate through means, including, but not limited to, assistive listening systems, sign language interpreters, captioning, written communication, plain language, and written translations in the applicable Medi-Cal threshold languages.

(i) Provide that materials are available and provided to inform CCS children and youth and their families of procedures for obtaining CCS specialty services and Medi-Cal primary care and mental health benefits, including grievance and appeals procedures that are offered by the managed care plan or are available through the Medi-Cal program.

(j) Identify and track children and youth with CCS-eligible conditions for the duration of the child’s or youth’s participation in the Whole Child Model program and for children and youth who age into adult Medi-Cal systems and who continue to be enrolled in the same Medi-Cal managed care plan for at least three years into adulthood, to the extent feasible.

(k) (1) Comply with Medi-Cal due process requirements and provide timely processes for accepting and acting upon complaints and grievances, including procedures for appealing decisions regarding coverage or benefits. The grievance process shall comply with Section 14450 of this code, and Sections 1368 and 1368.01 of the Health and Safety Code and applicable federal law and regulations.

(2) Upon denial, denial of reauthorization, or termination of services, a notice of action shall be sent to the CCS-eligible child or youth, or person legally authorized to act on behalf of the child or youth. The notice of action shall include information about the option to file a Medi-Cal appeal and Medi-Cal due process rights.

(l) Comply with § 1383.15 of the Health and Safety Code by allowing a child or youth or the parent or guardian of a child or youth to receive a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health care professional.

(m) Support the established referral pathways in the non-Whole Child Model counties, including, but not limited to, identifying children who may be eligible for the CCS program through internal reports, provider directed referrals, or direct referrals from the Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 42, Sec. 131. (AB 118) Effective July 10, 2023.)