(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that long-term services and supports (LTSS) be covered through managed care health plans in Coordinated Care Initiative counties.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that all of the following occur:

(1) Persons receiving health care services through Medi-Cal receive these services through a coordinated health care system that reduces the unnecessary use of emergency and hospital services.

(2) Coordinated health care services, including medical, long-term services and supports, and enhanced care management be covered through Medi-Cal managed care health plans in order to eliminate system inefficiencies and align incentives with positive health care outcomes.

(3) Managed care health plans shall, in coordination with LTSS care management providers, develop and expand care coordination practices in consultation with counties, nursing facilities, area agencies on aging, and other home- and community-based providers, and share best practices. Unless the consumer objects, managed care health plans may establish care coordination teams as needed. If the consumer is an IHSS recipient, their participation and the participation of their provider shall be subject to the consumer’s consent. These care coordination teams shall include the consumer, and their authorized representative, health plan, Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) case manager for CBAS clients, Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) case manager for MSSP clients, and, if an IHSS recipient, may include others, including, but not limited to, the recipient’s IHSS provider or a representative of the county social services agency.

(4) To the extent possible, for Medi-Cal beneficiaries also enrolled in the Medicare program, that the department work with the federal government to coordinate financing and incentives and permit managed care health plans to coordinate health care provided under both health care systems.

(5) The health care choices made by Medi-Cal beneficiaries be considered with regard to all of the following:

(A) Receiving care in a home- and community-based setting to maintain independence and quality of life.

(B) Selecting their health care providers in the managed care plan network.

(C) Controlling care planning, decisionmaking, and coordination with their health care providers.

(D) Gaining access to services that are culturally, linguistically, and operationally sensitive to meet their needs or limitations and that improve their health outcomes, enhance independence, and promote living in home- and community-based settings.

(E) Self-directing their care by being able to hire, fire, and supervise their IHSS provider.

(F) Being assured by the department and coordinating departments of their oversight of the quality of these coordinated health care services.

(6) Counties continue to perform functions necessary for the administration of the IHSS program, including conducting assessments and determining authorized hours for recipients, pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3. Counties and the State Department of Social Services may share recipient and provider data, as legally authorized, related to the IHSS program with managed care health plans for members who are receiving IHSS benefits to support care coordination when applicable.

(7) (A) No sooner than December 31, 2019, or on the date the managed care health plans and MSSP providers jointly satisfy the readiness criteria developed pursuant to subparagraph (D) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 14186.3, whichever is earlier, MSSP services shall transition from a federal waiver pursuant to Section 1915(c) under the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396n(c)) to a benefit administered and allocated by managed care health plans in Coordinated Care Initiative counties.

(B) Notwithstanding Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 9560) of Division 8.5, it is also the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this article shall apply to dual eligible and Medi-Cal-only beneficiaries enrolled in MSSP. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the department and managed care health plans shall work in collaboration with MSSP providers to begin development of standards that create a model of care of an integrated, person-centered care management and care coordination model that works within the context of managed care, and explore which portions of the MSSP program model may be adapted to managed care while maintaining the integrity and efficacy of the MSSP model to use as the basis of transition planning.

(C) At least 30 days before the MSSP services transition to a benefit administered and allocated by managed care health plans in Coordinated Care Initiative counties, the department shall notify the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature of its intent to transition the MSSP services to managed care health plans.

(D) Notwithstanding any other law, this paragraph shall be operative only through December 31, 2021.

(8) In lieu of providing nursing facility services, managed care health plans may authorize home- and community-based services plan benefits, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 14186.1, which managed care health plans shall be responsible for paying at no share of cost to the county.

(9) Managed care health plans shall share confidential beneficiary data as legally authorized and as appropriate to improve care coordination, promote shared understanding of the consumer’s needs, and provide appropriate coordination to the IHSS program and other long-term services and supports.

(10) Managed care health plans may authorize Care Plan Option services, which may include assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, for which managed care health plans shall be solely responsible for paying. The grievance process for these benefits shall be the same process as used for other benefits authorized by managed care health plans, and shall comply with Section 14450 of this code and Sections 1368 and 1368.1 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 34 of Chapter 37 of the Statutes of 2013, this section shall not be made inoperative as a result of any determination made by the Director of Finance pursuant to Section 34 of Chapter 37 of the Statutes of 2013.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, this section shall remain operative only through December 31, 2022.

(2) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 403. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021. Inoperative January 1, 2023, pursuant to subdivision (d). Repealed as of January 1, 2025, by its own provisions.)