(a) If any program under the Medi-Cal program that provides full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to an applicable individual is not statutorily specified in Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 5000A), nor designated as minimum essential coverage in federal regulations, such as Section 1.5000A-2 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations, then the department shall apply to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for the program to be recognized as minimum essential coverage. Any recognition of minimum essential coverage obtained by the department pursuant to this subdivision shall apply in accordance with the federal approvals received and shall be effective on the first day of the month following the receipt of federal approval unless an earlier effective date is provided in the applicable federal approval.

(b) If the requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage under Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 5000A) is repealed and no similar provision that would cause Medi-Cal beneficiaries to incur a tax penalty for the failure to maintain minimum essential coverage is implemented, this section shall become inoperative, and shall be repealed the following January 1.

(c) For purposes of this section, “applicable individual” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 5000A(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 5000A(d)).

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 52, Sec. 25. (SB 97) Effective July 10, 2017. Conditionally inoperative, by its own provisions. Repealed on January 1 following inoperative date, by its own provisions.)