CA AB2579

Repeals Section 12694 of the Insurance Code and replaces it with Section 14124.16 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to modernize the automated enrollment gateway system for WIC and Medi-Cal integration.

Requires the State Department of Health Care Services to design and implement an automated enrollment gateway system operational no later than January 1, 2020, allowing children applying to WIC to obtain express lane eligibility for Medi-Cal and pregnant women to obtain presumptive eligibility for Medi-Cal or the Medi-Cal Access Program.

Establishes that the system shall provide a simple electronic application allowing simultaneous WIC and Medi-Cal enrollment, with real-time connection to the Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS) to check enrollment status and transfer information between programs.

Requires the WIC Program to collect income and residency information for Medi-Cal eligibility, with Medi-Cal relying on WIC's income verification process to the extent permitted by federal law, while separately verifying citizenship and immigration status.

Conditions implementation on obtaining all necessary federal approvals and establishes that if the bill imposes state-mandated costs on counties, reimbursement shall be made pursuant to existing statutory procedures.