CA SB78

Establishes a Minimum Essential Coverage Individual Mandate requiring California residents to maintain health insurance starting January 1, 2020, with exemptions for hardship and religious conscience, enforced through an Individual Shared Responsibility Penalty collected by the Franchise Tax Board.

Creates Individual Market Assistance program providing premium subsidies to residents with household incomes up to 600% of federal poverty level through January 1, 2023, administered by the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Establishes Office of the Surgeon General within the California Health and Human Services Agency to coordinate policies on health issues including toxic stress and adverse childhood events.

Authorizes Department of Health Care Services to implement value-based payment programs requiring Medi-Cal managed care plans to provide incentive payments to providers for improvements in behavioral health integration, prenatal care, chronic disease management, and child health outcomes.

Restores and suspends optional Medi-Cal benefits (audiology, speech therapy, podiatric, optometric/optician services, and incontinence products) effective January 1, 2020, with automatic suspension December 31, 2021 unless specified revenue conditions are met.