(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may standardize those populations that are subject to mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan across all aid code groups and Medi-Cal managed care models statewide, subject to a Medi-Cal managed care plan readiness, continuity of care transition plan, and disenrollment process developed in consultation with stakeholders, in accordance with the CalAIM Terms and Conditions and as described in this section.

(1) (A) The department shall ensure the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s readiness for network adequacy includes a geographic access review of rural ZIP Codes to ensure time or distance standards are met, or alternative access standard requests are approved, as applicable, and the plan’s ability to meet existing federal and state mandatory provider type requirements, where available.

(B) The department shall not require a population to enroll in managed care if Medi-Cal managed care plans fail to meet the Medi-Cal managed care plan readiness requirements detailed in this paragraph for that population.

(2) The Medi-Cal managed care plan shall comply with the continuity of care requirements in § 1373.96 of the Health and Safety Code and shall be consistent with and no more restrictive than existing or future policy and guidance issued by the department, including All Plan Letter 22-032, any superseding all plan letter, and related guidance.

(3) The disenrollment process for an enrollee in any county shall be consistent with and no more restrictive than existing federal and state statutes and regulations, including Section 53889 and subdivision (c) of Section 53891 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The beneficiary may request a medical exemption from mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan in accordance with Section 53887 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations and may disenroll or be exempted from mandatory enrollment under the limited circumstances set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 53891 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. That disenrollment or exemption from mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall be consistent with subsection (c) of Section 438.56 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations and applicable state law.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, if the department standardizes those populations subject to mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan pursuant to subdivision (a), commencing January 1, 2022, and subject to subdivision (f) of Section 14184.102, a non-dual-eligible beneficiary, except a beneficiary identified in paragraph (2), shall be required to enroll, or shall continue to be required to enroll, in a Medi-Cal managed care plan for purposes of their receipt of covered Medi-Cal benefits.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law, if the department standardizes those populations subject to mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan pursuant to subdivision (a), commencing January 1, 2022, subject to subdivision (f) of Section 14184.102, the following dual and non-dual beneficiary groups, as identified by the department, shall be exempt from mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan:

(A) A beneficiary eligible for only restricted-scope Medi-Cal benefits, as described in subdivision (d) of Section 14007.5.

(B) A beneficiary made eligible on the basis of a share of cost, including, but not limited to, a non-dual-eligible beneficiary residing in a county that is authorized to operate a county organized health system (COHS), as described in Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), except for a non-dual-eligible beneficiary that is eligible on the basis of their need for long-term care services with a share of cost, as identified by the department.

(C) A beneficiary made eligible on the basis of a federally approved Medi-Cal Presumptive Eligibility program, as determined by the department, but only during the relevant period of presumptive eligibility.

(D) An eligible beneficiary who is an inmate of a public institution, or who is released pursuant to Section 26605.6 or 26605.7 of the Government Code.

(E) A beneficiary with satisfactory immigration status, including a noncitizen that is lawfully present, who is eligible for only pregnancy-related Medi-Cal coverage and who received services through the Medi-Cal fee-for-service delivery system prior to January 1, 2022, as identified by the department, but only through the end of the postpartum period.

(F) A beneficiary without satisfactory immigration status or who is unable to establish satisfactory immigration status as required by Section 14011.2, who is eligible for only pregnancy-related Medi-Cal coverage, excluding a beneficiary enrolled in the Medi-Cal Access Program described in Chapter 2 (commencing Section 15810) of Part 3.3.

(G) A non-dual-eligible beneficiary who is an Indian, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 438.14 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and who elects to forego voluntary enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(H) A non-dual-eligible beneficiary eligible on the basis of their receipt of services through a state foster care program, or eligible pursuant to Section 14005.28, who elects to forego voluntary enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan, except for a non-dual beneficiary described in this subparagraph who resides in a county that is authorized to operate COHS, as described in Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), or, effective January 1, 2025, in a county operating a Single Plan model of managed care established under Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 14087.3) and Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5). For the purpose of this subdivision, the following requirements shall apply to non-dual-eligible beneficiaries eligible on the basis of their receipt of services through a state foster care program, or eligible pursuant to Section 14005.28, who are transitioning to mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan in a county operating a Single Plan model of managed care:

(i) Medi-Cal managed care plans shall comply with the access requirements in Section 14197 and in accordance with All Plan Letter 23-001, any superseding all plan letter, and any related guidance.

(ii) The department shall use the Intercounty Transfer process as outlined in All County Welfare Directors Letter 18-02E to provide for immediate access to care and treatment services in the month of enrollment when a beneficiary moves from one county to another.

(iii) The department shall issue guidance with input from stakeholders, including county child welfare departments.

(I) A non-dual-eligible beneficiary enrolled with an entity with a contract with the department pursuant to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), as described in Chapter 8.75 (commencing with Section 14591).

(J) Any other non-dual-eligible beneficiary, as identified by the department, for whom federal law prohibits mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(K) A beneficiary residing in one of the Veterans’ Homes of California, as described in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1010) of Division 5 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, if the department standardizes those populations subject to mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan pursuant to subdivision (a), commencing January 1, 2023, and subject to subdivision (f) of Section 14184.102, a dual eligible beneficiary, except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) or paragraph (2) of this subdivision, shall be required to enroll, or shall continue to be required to enroll, in a Medi-Cal managed care plan for purposes of their receipt of covered Medi-Cal benefits.

(2) The following dual eligible beneficiary groups, as identified by the department, shall be exempt from mandatory enrollment in Medi-Cal managed care as described in paragraph (1):

(A) A dual eligible beneficiary made eligible on the basis of a share of cost, including, but not limited to, a dual eligible beneficiary residing in a county that is authorized to operate COHS, as described in Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), except for a dual eligible beneficiary who is eligible on the basis of their need for long-term care services with a share of cost, as determined by the department.

(B) A dual eligible beneficiary enrolled with an entity with a contract with the department pursuant to PACE as described in Chapter 8.75 (commencing with Section 14591).

(C) A dual eligible beneficiary enrolled with an entity with a Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) contract with the department.

(D) A dual eligible beneficiary who is an Indian, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 438.14 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and who elects to forego voluntary enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(E) A dual eligible beneficiary with HIV/AIDS who elects to forego voluntary enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(F) A dual eligible beneficiary eligible on the basis of their receipt of services through a state foster care program, or eligible pursuant to Section 14005.28, who elects to forego voluntary enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan, except for a dual beneficiary described in this subparagraph who resides in a county that is authorized to operate COHS, as described in Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), or, effective January 1, 2025, in a county operating a Single Plan model of managed care established under Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 14087.3) and Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5). For the purpose of this subdivision, the following requirements shall apply to non-dual-eligible beneficiaries eligible on the basis of their receipt of services through a state foster care program, or eligible pursuant to Section 14005.28, who are transitioning to mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan in a county operating a Single Plan model of managed care:

(i) Medi-Cal managed care plans shall comply with the access requirements in Section 14197 and in accordance with All Plan Letter 23-001, any superseding all plan letter, and any related guidance.

(ii) The department shall use the Intercounty Transfer process as outlined in All County Welfare Directors Letter 18-02E to provide for immediate access to care and treatment services in the month of enrollment when a beneficiary moves from one county to another.

(iii) The department shall issue guidance with input from stakeholders, including county child welfare departments.

(G) A dual eligible beneficiary residing in one of the Veterans’ Homes of California, as described in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1010) of Division 5 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(H) Any other dual eligible beneficiary, as identified by the department, for whom federal law prohibits mandatory enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(d) (1) This section shall not prohibit a Medi-Cal beneficiary from receiving covered benefits on a temporary basis through the Medi-Cal fee-for-service delivery system pending enrollment into an individual Medi-Cal managed care plan in accordance with this section and the CalAIM Terms and Conditions.

(2) This section shall not prohibit certain Medi-Cal beneficiaries eligible for full-scope benefits under the Medi-Cal State plan, as identified by the department, from voluntarily enrolling in a Medi-Cal managed care plan, in accordance with the CalAIM Terms and Conditions.

(e) (1) No later than January 1, 2023, in all non-County Organized Health System counties, in areas where a PACE plan is available, the PACE plan shall be presented as an enrollment option, included in enrollment materials, and made available to an applicable beneficiary whenever enrollment choices and options are presented. Outreach and enrollment materials shall enable a Medi-Cal beneficiary to understand what PACE provides, that, if eligible, they may be assessed for PACE eligibility and enroll in PACE, and how they can receive additional information and request to be assessed for PACE eligibility. A person meeting the age qualifications for PACE and who chooses PACE shall not be assigned to a Medi-Cal managed care plan for the lesser of 60 days or until they are assessed for eligibility for PACE and determined not to be eligible for PACE. A person enrolled in a PACE plan shall receive all Medicare and Medi-Cal services from the PACE plan pursuant to the three-way agreement between the PACE plan, the department, and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(2) In areas of the state where a presentation on Medi-Cal managed care plan enrollment options is unavailable, the department, or its contracted vendor, shall provide informational, outreach, and enrollment materials about the PACE program.

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

(1) “Dual eligible beneficiary” means an individual 21 years of age or older who is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part A (42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq.) or Medicare Part B (42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq.), or both, and is eligible for medical assistance under the Medi-Cal State Plan. For purposes of this article, “dual eligible beneficiary” shall include both a “full-benefit dual eligible beneficiary” and a “partial-benefit dual eligible beneficiary,” as those terms are defined in this subdivision.

(2) “Full-benefit dual eligible beneficiary” means an individual 21 years or older who is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part A (42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq.), Medicare Part B (42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq.), and Medicare Part D (42 U.S.C. § 1395w-101), and is eligible for medical assistance under the Medi-Cal State Plan.

(3) “Non-dual-eligible beneficiary” means an individual eligible for medical assistance under the Medi-Cal State plan, as determined by the department, that is not eligible for benefits under Medicare Part A (42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq.) or Medicare Part B (42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq.).

(4) “Partial-benefit dual eligible beneficiary” means an individual 21 years of age or older who is enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part A (42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq.), but not Medicare Part B (42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq.), or who is enrolled for Medicare Part B (42 U.S.C. § 1395j et seq.), but not Medicare Part A (42 U.S.C. § 1395c et seq.), and is eligible for medical assistance under the Medi-Cal State Plan.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 42, Sec. 157. (AB 118) Effective July 10, 2023.)