Section 14005.31 - Notice to be used by counties to inform beneficiaries whose eligibility for cash aid has ended(a)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), for any person whose eligibility for benefits under Section 14005.30 has been determined with a concurrent determination of eligibility for cash aid under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200), loss of eligibility or termination of cash aid under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) shall not result in a loss of eligibility or termination of benefits under Section 14005.30 absent the existence of a factor that would result in loss of eligibility for benefits under Section 14005.30 for a person whose eligibility under Section 14005.30 was determined without a concurrent determination of eligibility for benefits under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200).(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person whose eligibility would otherwise be terminated pursuant to that paragraph shall not have his or her eligibility terminated until the transfer procedures set forth in Section 14005.32 or the redetermination procedures set forth in Section 14005.37 and all due process requirements have been met.(b) The department, in consultation with the counties and representatives of consumers, managed care plans, and Medi-Cal providers, shall prepare a simple, clear, consumer-friendly notice to be used by the counties to inform Medi-Cal beneficiaries whose eligibility for cash aid under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) has ended, but whose eligibility for benefits under Section 14005.30 continues pursuant to subdivision (a), that their benefits will continue. To the extent feasible, the notice shall be sent out at the same time as the notice of discontinuation of cash aid, and shall include all of the following: (1) A statement that Medi-Cal benefits will continue even though cash aid under the CalWORKs program has been terminated.(2) A statement that continued receipt of Medi-Cal benefits will not be counted against any time limits in existence for receipt of cash aid under the CalWORKs program.(3) A statement that the Medi-Cal beneficiary does not need to fill out monthly status reports in order to remain eligible for Medi-Cal, but may be required to submit annual reaffirmation forms. The notice shall remind individuals whose cash aid ended under the CalWORKs program as a result of not submitting a status report that he or she should review his or her circumstances to determine if changes have occurred that should be reported to the Medi-Cal eligibility worker.(4) A statement describing the responsibility of the Medi-Cal beneficiary to report to the county, within 10 days, significant changes that may affect eligibility.(5) A telephone number to call for more information.(6) A statement that the Medi-Cal beneficiary's eligibility worker will not change, or, if the case has been reassigned, the new worker's name, address, and telephone number, and the hours during which the county's eligibility workers can be contacted.(c) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.) is available.(d) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time regulations are adopted. Thereafter, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the effective date of this section, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis until regulations have been adopted.(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.Ca. Welf. and Inst. Code § 14005.31
Added by Stats 2013 ch 4 (SB X1-1),s 7, eff. 9/30/2013.