(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency period, the department shall implement any federal Medicaid program waiver or flexibility approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This includes, but is not limited to, any waiver or flexibility approved pursuant to Sections 1315, 1320b-5, or 1396n of Title 42 of the United States Code, or the Medi-Cal state plan. Any request for a federal Medicaid program waiver or flexibility shall be subject to Department of Finance approval before the department submits that request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(2) During the COVID-19 emergency period, and through December 31, 2022, for any extended waiver or flexibility described in subdivision (f), if there is a conflict between this chapter, Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), Chapter 8.8 (commencing with Section 14600), or Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700), and any approved federal waiver or flexibility, as described in paragraph (1), the approved federal waiver or flexibility shall control over any conflict in the specified state law.

(b) (1) To the extent that federal financial participation is available, the department, subject to Department of Finance approval, shall exercise its option under Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XXIII) of Title 42 of the United States Code to extend the medical assistance, as described in Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XVIII) of Title 42 of the United States Code, to uninsured individuals, as defined in Section 1396a(ss) of Title 42 of the United States Code, for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency period.

(2) The department, subject to Department of Finance approval, may seek federal approval pursuant to Section 1315 of Title 42 of the United States Code to extend the medical assistance afforded to uninsured individuals pursuant to paragraph (1) to include COVID-19-related treatment services that are otherwise covered for full-scope Medi-Cal beneficiaries, as defined by the department. If federal financial participation is unavailable, the department, subject to Department of Finance approval, may elect to implement this paragraph on a state-only funding basis, and subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall seek to maximize federal financial participation for Medi-Cal expenditures that it determines to be available for the COVID-19 public health emergency, and shall comply with any federal requirements and conditions for receipt of that federal financial participation. This includes, but is not limited to, the temporary increase in the federal medical assistance percentage made available pursuant to Section 6008 of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127).

(d) Due to the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on the department’s ongoing administration of the Medi-Cal program, the department may seek any federal approvals it deems necessary for any number of temporary extensions of all or select components of the California Medi-Cal 2020 Demonstration (No. 11-W-00193/9) pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184), which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020. If the department elects to seek any extension, the department shall determine the length of time for the extension sought and whether to seek an extension for the entirety of the demonstration or select components of the demonstration. In implementing this subdivision, the department, to the extent practicable, shall consult with affected stakeholder entities before seeking a temporary extension.

(e) The department, subject to Department of Finance approval, shall seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to implement this section or to maintain sufficient access to covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program during the COVID-19 emergency period. This section shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized.

(f) (1) (A) The department shall seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to extend the approved waiver or flexibility implemented pursuant to subdivision (a), as of July 1, 2021, that are related to the delivery and reimbursement of services via telehealth modalities in the Medi-Cal program. Subject to subdivision (e), the department shall implement those extended waivers or flexibilities for which federal approval is obtained, to commence on the first calendar day immediately following the last calendar day of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency period, and through December 31, 2022.

(B) Subject to subdivision (e), the department may authorize the use of remote patient monitoring as an allowable telehealth modality for covered health care services and provider types it deems appropriate for dates of service on or after July 1, 2021. The department may establish a fee schedule for applicable health care services delivered via remote patient monitoring.

(2) (A) For purposes of informing the 2022-23 proposed Governor’s Budget, released in January 2022, the department shall convene an advisory group consisting of consultants, subject matter experts, and other affected stakeholders to provide recommendations to inform the department in establishing and adopting billing and utilization management protocols for telehealth modalities to increase access and equity and reduce disparities in the Medi-Cal program. The advisory group shall analyze the impact of telehealth in increased access for patients, changes in health quality outcomes and utilization, best practices for the appropriate mix of in-person visits and telehealth, and the benefits or liabilities of any practice or care model changes that have resulted from telephonic visits.

(B) The advisory group shall include representatives of the California Medical Association, the California Primary Care Association, the California Association of Public Hospitals, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, Medi-Cal managed care plans, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Essential Access Health, and other subject matter experts or other affected stakeholders as identified by the department.

(3) For purposes of implementing this subdivision, the department may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis. Contracts entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, § 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and the State Administrative Manual, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.

(4) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit coverage of, and reimbursement for, telehealth modalities that are the type authorized by the department prior to the COVID-19 emergency period and described in the Medi-Cal State Plan, the Medi-Cal provider manual, or other departmental guidance.

(g) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, subject to appropriation by the Legislature and Section 11.95 of the Budget Act of 2021, the department shall implement those activities and expenditures to enhance, expand, or strengthen home and community-based services (HCBS) under the Medi-Cal program that are approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pursuant to Section 9817 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) and associated federal guidance.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall comply with any federal requirements and conditions as necessary to claim the increased federal medical assistance percentage for eligible HCBS expenditures pursuant to Section 9817 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) and associated federal guidance.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law, stipends or payments received by an individual from initiatives included in the approved HCBS spending plan described in this subdivision shall not be considered income or resources for purposes of determining the individual’s, or any member of their household’s, eligibility for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance, under any state or local benefit or assistance program, to the extent permitted under federal law and, where applicable, to the extent any necessary federal approvals are obtained.

(4) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, the State Department of Social Services, the California Department of Aging, the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of Rehabilitation, and the Department of Health Care Access and Information, as applicable, may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision and any HCBS activity described in paragraph (1) by means of all-county letters, plan letters, provider bulletins, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory action.

(5) For purposes of implementing this subdivision and any HCBS activity described in paragraph (1), the department, the State Department of Social Services, the California Department of Aging, the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of Rehabilitation, and the Department of Health Care Access and Information, as applicable, may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis. Contracts entered into or amended pursuant to this paragraph, and the implementation of any HCBS activity described in paragraph (1), shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, § 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, Chapters 7 (commencing with Section 9530) and 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) of Division 8.5 of this code, and the State Administrative Manual, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.

(6) Any funding made available to the Traumatic Brain Injury Program in the State Department of Rehabilitation pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be exempted from subdivision (b) of Section 4355, subdivision (b) of Section 4357, and subdivision (c) of Section 4357.1.

(h) Notwithstanding any other law, upon expiration of the COVID-19 emergency period and subject to subdivision (e), the department shall continue to reimburse the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine at 100 percent of the Medicare national equivalent rates in effect at the time the vaccine is administered and without any geographic adjustment.

(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, provider bulletins, or other similar instructions without taking any further regulatory action.

(j) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “COVID-19 emergency period” has the same meaning as “emergency period” as defined in Section 1320b-5(g)(1)(B) of Title 42 of the United States Code, unless otherwise defined in federal law or any federal approval obtained pursuant to this section.

(2) “COVID-19 public health emergency” means the Public Health Emergency declared by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services on January 31, 2020, pursuant to Section 247d of Title 42 of the United States Code, and entitled “Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus,” including any subsequent renewal of that declaration.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 47, Sec. 95. (SB 184) Effective June 30, 2022.)