AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 27, 2010

SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 18

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER PURCELL

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER KIRWIN)

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR SENATOR JONES)


 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 18: MEDI-CAL: ELIGIBILITY.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES ADMINISTERS THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM UNDER WHICH QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME PERSONS ARE PROVIDED WITH HEALTH CARE SERVICES. EXISTING LAW ESTABLISHES ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM, INCLUDING INCOME AND RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS. EXISTING REGULATIONS PROVIDE THAT WHEN COUNTING AN INDIVIDUAL’S RESOURCES, AN INDIVIDUAL IS ENTITLED TO HAVE ONE MOTOR VEHICLE THAT IS USED FOR TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERED EXEMPT.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE THAT THE INCOME LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY FOR THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM BE DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF A REASONABLE DISPENSABLE INCOME AND ENSURE THAT HOUSEHOLDS WITH TWO MOTOR VEHICLES MAY HAVE BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES BE EXEMPT FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES UNDER THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM, AS SPECIFIED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 18: RELATING TO MEDI-CAL

WHEREAS, THE INCOME LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY FOR THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM HAS NOT CHANGED IN A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THE COST OF LIVING HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE; AND

WHEREAS, PERSONS WHO HAVE AN INCOME OVER A SET AMOUNT AND HAVE SUPPORTED OTHER PERSONS IN NEED OF HEALTH CARE ARE NOW UNABLE TO AFFORD THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE; AND

WHEREAS, THERE IS A LARGE PORTION OF PERSONS WHO WORK PART-TIME BECAUSE THEIR HOURS HAVE BEEN REDUCED AND WHO MAY LOSE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF LARGE CREDIT CARD DEBT DUE TO HEALTH CARE PAYMENTS; AND

WHEREAS, THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ARE CAUSING PERSONS TO GO INTO FORECLOSURE BECAUSE OF CREDIT CARD DEBT; AND

WHEREAS, THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF HOSPITALS THAT ARE CLOSING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID FOR THE CARE THEY PROVIDE TO PERSONS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE; AND

WHEREAS, FIFTY-SEVEN TO 63 MILLION PERSONS USE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN HOSPITALS; AND

WHEREAS, IT WAS REPORTED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE THAT UNPLANNED ADM1TTANCES OR HOSPITALIZATIONS OF UNINSURED PERSONS COSTS AN ESTIMATED $17.45 BILLION EACH YEAR; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE DOES NOT COVER PERSONS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE AND THESE PERSONS ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS, LEADING TO MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY PERSONS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO CARS, EVEN IF ONE OF THOSE CARS IS THE HOUSEHOLD CAR; AND

WHEREAS, HOUSEHOLDS NEED TWO CARS IN ORDER FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD TO LOOK FOR WORK IF THOSE PERSONS ARE WORKING PART-TIME OR HAVE BEEN LAID OFF; AND

WHEREAS, PERSONS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE ARE GETTING TURNED DOWN BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM; AND

WHEREAS, MOST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE GETTING SUBSTANDARD MEDICAL CARE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2010 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFORE, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT HOUSEHOLDS WITH TWO MOTOR VEHICLES MAY HAVE BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES BE EXEMPT FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES UNDER THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM IF ONE MOTOR VEHICLE IS USED FOR WORK AND THE OTHER MOTOR VEHICLE IS THE FAMILY CAR; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE INCOME LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY FOR THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM BE DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF A REASONABLE DISPENSABLE INCOME; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 10 14123

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