CA AB635

Requires the State Department of Health Care Services to conduct a study identifying current requirements for medical interpretation services, education, training, and licensure requirements for Medi-Cal beneficiaries with limited English proficiency.

Mandates analysis of other state Medicaid programs and development of recommendations for strategies to improve medical interpretation services for limited English proficient Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

Authorizes establishment of a pilot project in up to four separate sites to evaluate mechanisms for providing and improving medical interpretation services, with site selection based on identified needs and study recommendations.

Allows the department to expend up to $3,000,000 from the Budget Act of 2016 for the pilot project and study, contingent on Department of Finance approval, and permits seeking additional available federal funding.

Requires annual updates to the Legislature's budget committees beginning in 2017 on implementation progress; the article becomes inoperative on July 1, 2020 and is repealed January 1, 2021 unless extended by statute.