(a) (1) A Medi-Cal managed care plan that has received approval from the department to utilize an alternative access standard pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 14197, upon the request of an enrollee who is required to travel farther than the time or distance standards, as established in subdivision (c) of Section 14197, shall assist that enrollee in obtaining an appointment with an appropriate specialist provider within the time or distance standards established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 14197 and the appointment time standards established pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14197.

(2) For purposes of complying with the requirement to assist an enrollee, as specified in paragraph (1), a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall do either of the following:

(A) Make its best effort to establish a member-specific case agreement, at the Medi-Cal fee-for-service rate or a rate mutually agreed upon by the specialist provider and the plan, with an appropriate specialist provider within the time or distance standards established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 14197 and the appointment time standards established pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14197.

(B) Arrange for an appointment with a network specialist provider within the time or distance standards established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 14197, and the appointment time standards established pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14197.

(3) The requirements of paragraph (1) shall not apply if there is not a specialist provider with an office location within the applicable time or distance standards in relation to the area within which the enrollee resides or the Medi-Cal managed care plan has attempted to establish a member-specific case agreement with the specialist provider for any enrollee pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) in the most recent fiscal year and the provider refused to enter into a member-specific case agreement.

(b) If a specialist provider is unavailable to render necessary health care services pursuant to subdivision (a) to an enrollee within the time or distance standards established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 14197 and the appointment time standards established pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14197, as specified in subdivision (a), the Medi-Cal managed care plan or the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program, as determined appropriate by the department, shall arrange for Medi-Cal covered transportation for an enrollee to obtain covered Medi-Cal services pursuant to Section 14132.

(c) A Medi-Cal managed care plan that has received approval from the department to utilize an alternative access standard pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 14197 shall inform its affected members of the approved alternative access standards in a manner and timeframe, as determined by the department.

(d) (1) “Medi-Cal managed care plan” means any individual, organization, or entity that enters into a contract with the department to provide services to enrolled Medi-Cal beneficiaries pursuant to any of the following:

(A) Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 14087.3), including dental managed care programs developed pursuant to Section 14087.46.

(B) Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5).

(C) Article 2.81 (commencing with Section 14087.96).

(D) Article 2.82 (commencing with Section 14087.98).

(E) Article 2.91 (commencing with Section 14089).

(F) Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), including dental managed care plans.

(G) Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700).

(H) A county Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery system authorized under the California Medi-Cal 2020 Demonstration pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184) or a successor demonstration or waiver, as applicable.

(2) “Specialist provider” has the same meaning as “specialist” as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (i) of Section 14197.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 47, Sec. 133. (SB 184) Effective June 30, 2022.)