SB 508 (Hernandez) – Support
As amended January 9, 2014

SB 508 makes necessary changes to the statutory framework for California’s implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). The measure is a follow up to SBX1 1 (Hernandez and Steinberg, Chapter 4, Statutes of 2013) and ABX1 1 (Perez, Chapter 3, Statutes of 2013). 

Specifically, SB 508 would codify the new federal income standards – utilizing modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) rules – established by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for determining Medi-Cal eligibility. SB 508 ensures California statutes accurately reflect how the Administration has defined the MAGI standards for purposes of eligibility of various groups.

Additionally, the measure would extend Medi-Cal benefits to independent foster care adolescents. SB 508 would ensure that foster youth who lose foster care eligibility due to having reached the maximum age for assistance would still be able to get Medicaid coverage up to age 26. Recent state law changes allow youth to remain in care beyond age 18, up to age 21. As a result, youth are leaving care at various ages. SB 508 ensures that these youth are treated equally for purposes of ongoing eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits. SB 508 also streamlines eligibility by deleting the deprivation requirement for parent or caretaker relatives.

SB 508 was heard in Senate Health Committee on Wednesday and passed out of Committee. The bill will be heard next in Senate Appropriations. 

AB 485 (Gomez) – Watch
As amended September 6, 2013

Senate Health Committee heard AB 485 on Wednesday. This measure would de-link the Statewide Authority for collective bargaining for In-Home Supportive Services providers from the Coordinated Care Initiative and accelerate the movement of collective bargaining from the local level to the state. It is sponsored by labor. Senate Health passed the measure with amendments. It will be heard next in Senate Appropriations. 

AB 485 was amended the last day of the Legislature’s first year of the session, and the Brown Administration opposed the measure at that time.