SB 97 Summary

• Skilled Nursing Facility Staffing: Requires skilled nursing facilities to maintain minimum of 3.5 direct care service hours per patient day effective July 1, 2018, with updated definitions of direct caregivers and provisions for waivers.

• Medi-Cal Pharmacy Reimbursement: Implements actual acquisition cost methodology for drug ingredient costs effective April 1, 2017, and establishes volume-based dispensing fees for pharmacies.

• Diabetes Prevention Program: Establishes Diabetes Prevention Program within Medi-Cal to provide evidence-based lifestyle intervention services to beneficiaries with prediabetes, available no sooner than July 1, 2018.

• Long-Term Services and Supports Integration: Transitions In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) coverage to Medi-Cal managed care plans in Coordinated Care Initiative counties, with transition provisions through December 31, 2017.

• Graduate Medical Education Payments: Authorizes payments to designated public hospitals for graduate medical education costs through intergovernmental transfers and creates the Designated Public Hospital Graduate Medical Education Special Fund.