(a) To the extent federal financial participation is available pursuant to an approved state plan amendment, the department shall implement Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX)) to provide Medi-Cal benefits to an individual until his or her 26th birthday if he or she was in foster care on his or her 18th birthday, or such higher age the state has elected under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.). In addition, the department shall implement the federal option to provide Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who were in foster care and enrolled in Medicaid in any state.

(1) A foster care adolescent who was in foster care in this state on his or her 18th birthday, or such higher age the state has elected under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.), shall be enrolled to receive benefits under this section without any interruption in coverage and without requiring a new application.

(2) The department shall develop procedures to identify and enroll individuals who meet the criteria for Medi-Cal eligibility in this subdivision, including, but not limited to, former foster care adolescents who were in foster care on their 18th birthday and who lost Medi-Cal coverage as a result of attaining 21 years of age. The department shall work with counties to identify and conduct outreach to former foster care adolescents who lost Medi-Cal coverage during the 2013 calendar year as a result of attaining 21 years of age, to ensure they are aware of the ability to reenroll under the coverage provided pursuant to this section.

(3) (A) The department shall develop and implement a simplified redetermination form for this program. A beneficiary qualifying for the benefits extended pursuant to this section shall fill out and return this form only if information known to the department is no longer accurate or is materially incomplete.

(B) The department shall seek federal approval to institute a renewal process that allows a beneficiary receiving benefits under this section to remain on Medi-Cal after a redetermination form is returned as undeliverable and the county is otherwise unable to establish contact. If federal approval is granted, the recipient shall remain eligible for services under the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program until the time contact is reestablished or ineligibility is established, and to the extent federal financial participation is available.

(C) The department shall terminate eligibility only after it determines that the recipient is no longer eligible and all due process requirements are met in accordance with state and federal law.

(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the effective date of this section, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted.

(c) This section shall be implemented only if and to the extent that federal financial participation is available.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 831, Sec. 4. (SB 508) Effective January 1, 2015.)