(a) (1) The department shall seek all necessary federal approvals to exercise the option described in Section 1396w-6 of Title 42 of the United States Code, to provide qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis.

(2) Qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services shall be available to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries exclusively through a Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system.

(b) The department shall comply with any federal requirements and conditions for receipt of the increased federal medical assistance percentage described in Section 1396w-6(c) of Title 42 of the United States Code and any associated federal regulations or guidance for qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services.

(c) Subject to obtaining the federal approvals described in subdivision (a), the department shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish requirements for the receipt of qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services by eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis, including, but not limited to, utilization controls.

(2) Establish requirements for authorized providers of qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services.

(3) Oversee and enforce the requirements and guidelines developed pursuant to this section.

(d) For the purposes of implementing this section, including, but not limited to, providing training and technical assistance, 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 subdivision 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.

(e) Subject to federal approval, this section shall be implemented no sooner than January, 1, 2023, and shall be implemented up to the end of the five-year period specified in Section 1396w-6 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

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

(g) 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, in whole or in part, by means of plan or county letters, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory action. To the extent practicable, the department shall consult with interested stakeholders when issuing guidance pursuant to this subdivision.

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

(1) “Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (i) of Section 14184.101.

(2) “Qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 1396w-6(b) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 47, Sec. 97. (SB 184) Effective June 30, 2022.)