AB 859: Medi-Cal: obesity treatment plans.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law specifies the benefits provided pursuant to the program.

This bill would require the department, on or before December 31, 2016, and until January 1, 2021, to create an Obesity Treatment Action Plan to diagnose, treat, and reduce the incidence of adult obesity in the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the department to report the plan to the Legislature, along with any legislative recommendations to implement the plan. The bill would require the plan to include evidence-based principles and obesity treatment guidelines from specified provider associations, a plan for identifying and screening patients for obesity, and a review of coverage services to treat obesity. The bill would provide that limit application of the plan apply only to noncapitated payment plans in Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal fee-for-service plans. This bill would require the department to seek any federal approvals necessary to implement the requirements of the bill and to obtain federal financial participation, as specified.