(a) The department shall notify every FQHC in the state of the APM project and shall invite any interested FQHC to apply for participation in the APM with respect to one or more of the FQHC’s sites. Consistent with federal law, the state plan amendment described in subdivision (b) of Section 14138.12 shall specify that the department and each participating FQHC voluntarily agrees to the APM.

(b) (1) The department shall develop, in consultation with interested FQHCs and principal health plans and consistent with federal law, the eligibility criteria to be used in evaluating applications from interested FQHCs for participation in the project, which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

Terms Used In California Welfare and Institutions Code 14138.13

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14
  • department: means the State Department of Health Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14062
  • Medi-Cal: means the California Medical Assistance Program. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14063

(A) The FQHC has the demonstrated ability to collect and submit encounter data in a form and manner that satisfies department requirements.

(B) The FQHC is in good standing with the relevant state and federal regulators.

(C) The FQHC has the financial and administrative capacity to undertake payment reform.

(2) In addition to the criteria listed in paragraph (1), the department may take into consideration the number of APM enrollees assigned by a plan at each FQHC site as an eligibility requirement for FQHC participation.

(3) In accordance with the process and criteria developed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), the department shall approve or deny an interested FQHC site application for participation in the project. The department, at its sole discretion, may limit the number of participating FQHCs in the project and the number of counties in which the project will operate.

(4) All principal health plans and applicable subcontracting payers are required to participate in the APM project pursuant to this article to the extent that one or more contracted FQHC sites located in the plan’s county are selected to participate in the project.

(c) The APM shall be applied only with respect to a participating FQHC for services the FQHC provides to its APM enrollees that are within its APM scope of services.

(d) Payment to the participating FQHC shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Sections 14087.325 and 14132.100 for services provided with respect to a person who is a Medi-Cal beneficiary, but who is not a Medi-Cal beneficiary within a designated APM aid category.

(e)  Payment to the participating FQHC for furnishing services within the scope of the APM to a Medi-Cal beneficiary within a designated APM aid category who is enrolled with a Medi-Cal managed care plan that is not contracted with the FQHC shall be at the per-visit rate determined pursuant to Section 14132.100.

(f)  After implementation of an APM project, a participating FQHC, with respect to one or more sites of its choosing, may opt to discontinue its participation in the project subject to a notice requirement of no less than 180 days before the beginning of the next managed care rating period.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 47, Sec. 110. (SB 184) Effective June 30, 2022.)

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