Bill > AB543

This bill aims to improve healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness by establishing a field medicine framework within the Medi-Cal program. The bill defines field medicine as a patient-centered approach to providing medical services directly to people experiencing homelessness in non-traditional settings like streets, cars, or encampments. It allows Medi-Cal managed care plans to voluntarily offer services through field medicine providers, enabling homeless Medi-Cal members to receive care directly from these providers regardless of their typical network assignment. The bill requires managed care plans to create communication mechanisms between field medicine providers, plan administrators, and primary care providers to ensure coordinated care. It mandates that plans provide methods for members to identify themselves as experiencing homelessness and requires the state to reimburse field medicine providers for services in fee-for-service settings. The legislation is motivated by stark health disparities, noting that people experiencing homelessness have significantly higher mortality rates, less access to primary care, and more complex health challenges. By 2027, the bill also requires the standard Medi-Cal application to include an optional question about homelessness status. The implementation of these provisions is contingent on obtaining necessary federal approvals and maintaining federal financial participation.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB543