SB 635

Currently, the Department of Health Services administers the Medical

Assistance (MA) program, which is a joint federal and state program that provides

health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. Generally, under

the MA program, the state provides its share of the funding for benefits and the

federal government then contributes its designated share of funding, also known as

federal financial participation.

Under current law, DHS may, but is not required to, cover under the MA

program the costs of services provided to MA beneficiaries in an institution for

mental disease if federal financial participation is available and certain other

requirements are met; under this bill, DHS must cover the costs of those services

under the MA program if federal funding participation is available and certain other

requirements are met. The bill also requires DHS, by January 1, 2025, to submit a

request to the federal Department of Health and Human Services for any waiver or

approval necessary to provide MA coverage, with federal funding participation, of

short-term stays for acute care in an institution for mental disease.