AB 1949: Medi-Cal: acupuncture treatments.

Existing law establishes 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, including pharmacy services and drugs. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits covered under the Medi-Cal program, including acupuncture, but only to the extent federal matching funds are provided for acupuncture.

This bill would require the Medi-Cal program to cover up to 24 acupuncture visits per beneficiary per calendar year and would state that the benefit is not subject to utilization controls, except as specified. additional visits per calendar year may be authorized based on medical necessity.