CA AB315

Requires enrollment of all eligible individuals who apply for the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver, eliminating the previous cap of 5,000 additional slots

Mandates the Department of Health Care Services by March 1, 2026 to seek waiver amendments ensuring sufficient capacity to enroll all eligible individuals currently on waiting lists

Requires the department to submit a rate study to the Legislature by March 1, 2026 addressing sustainability, quality, and transparency of HCBA Waiver reimbursement rates

Rate study must assess whether current rates provide adequate provider supply, sufficient workforce, and keep pace with inflation, noting rates have remained stagnant since 2007

HCBA Waiver serves individuals with significant medical needs who would otherwise require nursing home or institutional placement, with nearly 35,000 Californians currently enrolled and thousands more on waiting lists