(a) Community health worker services are a covered Medi-Cal benefit.

(b) For purposes of this section, “community health worker” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 18998.

(c) A Medi-Cal managed care plan shall engage in outreach and education efforts to enrollees in a form and manner as directed by the department. At a minimum, the department shall require a Medi-Cal managed care plan to provide the following information to an enrollee:

(1) A description of the community health worker services benefit, including eligibility and coverage criteria.

(2) A list of providers that are authorized to refer an enrollee to community health worker services, and an explanation of how to request a referral.

(3) A list of contracted community health worker entities, including community-based organizations, community clinics, local health jurisdictions, licensed providers, clinics, or hospitals available to provide community health worker services, updated at least annually.

(4) An email address, internet website, and telephone number for an enrollee to access to request additional information regarding community health worker services.

(d) The outreach and education efforts conducted by a Medi-Cal managed care plan pursuant to subdivision (c) shall meet cultural and linguistic appropriateness standards, as determined by the department.

(e) The Medi-Cal managed care plan shall notify providers about the community health worker services benefit, as set forth by the department.

(f) The department shall, through existing and regular stakeholder processes, inform stakeholders about, and accept input from stakeholders on, implementation of the community health worker services benefit.

(g) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized, and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.

(h) 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 policy letters, provider bulletins, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory action.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 488, Sec. 2. (AB 2697) Effective January 1, 2023.)