Medi-Cal: special commissions.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which health care services are provided to qualified, low-income persons. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors to establish a commission to negotiate an exclusive contract with the department to provide, or arrange for the provision of, health care services under the Medi-Cal program. Pursuant to the authority described above, the County of Orange established a commission, known as the Orange County Health Authority or CalOptima, to provide health care services under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law vests governance of the commission in a 10-member governing body and requires that 2 of the governing body's members be members of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange, with one additional member from the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange serving as an alternate. Existing law requires each member to serve a 4-year term, except as described. This bill would require those terms to be staggered and would require, for the term beginning after January 1, 2027, 3 members to serve 2 years, with a 4-year term beginning thereafter. The bill would also specify that the alternate member from the Board of Supervisors are required to have the same right of access as any other member of the governing body to the commission's books, communications, documents, and records, as specified. Because this bill would impose a unique requirement on how services are provided on a local government, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for County of Orange. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.