LEGISLATION COMMITTEE   11.          
Meeting Date: 03/13/2017  
Subject: SB 222 (Hernandez): Inmates: Health Care Enrollment
Submitted For: LEGISLATION COMMITTEE,
Department: County Administrator
Referral No.: 2017-14  
Referral Name: SB 222 (Hernandez): Inmates: Health Care Enrollment
Presenter: L. DeLaney Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

Referral History:
SB 222 (Hernandez) was referred to the Legislation Committee by staff of the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD). There are no specific policies in the Board's adopted 2017 State Platform that align directly with the bill, which aims to increase access to health care services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries immediately after incarceration.  However, these kinds of policies and practices are aligned with the County's work to facilitate the successful reentry of returning residents from incarceration and health care access is a vital component of reentry.
Referral Update:
SB 222 (Hernandez):  Inmates: Health Care Enrollment

Introduced: 02/02/2017
Disposition: Pending
Location: Senate Health Committee
Summary: Requires the suspension of Medi-Cal benefits to end on the date he or she is no longer an inmate of a public institution or is no longer otherwise eligible for benefits under the Medi-Cal program. Requires the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with specified stakeholders, to develop and implement a simplified annual renewal process for individuals in a suspended eligibility status.
Status:
02/16/2017 To SENATE Committees on HEALTH and PUBLIC SAFETY.

Attachment A is a Fact Sheet from the bill's author.  Attachment B is the bill text.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
CONSIDER recommending to the Board of Supervisors a position of "Support" on SB 222 (Hernandez):  Access to Medi-Cal for Former Inmates, as recommended by staff of EHSD and the Office of Reentry and Justice.

Attachments-Y
Attachment A: SB 222 Fact Sheet
Attachment B: SB 222 Bill Text