14005.50. (Added by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 31.)

(a) To the extent that federal financial participation is available, the department shall exercise the option made available under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I)) to extend full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who are ineligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits under a program listed in subdivision (c) as a result of the July 1, 2009, reduction in the SSI/SSP program maximum aid payments pursuant to Section 12200.019, or any subsequent reductions in maximum aid payments.

(b) The programs authorized under this section shall utilize the income and resource standards and methodologies of the SSI/SSP program and in addition an income disregard shall be applied as necessary to adjust the income standard to that which was in place for the affected program on May 1, 2009.

(c) (1) The SSI/SSP program under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act.

(2) The Pickle program under the Pickle Amendment to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (Public Law 94-566).

(3) The Disabled Adult Child program under Section 1634 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1383c).

(4) The Disabled Widow or Widower program under Section 1634 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1383c).

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), for the purposes of this section, for blind individuals who meet the criteria for blindness as set forth in Section 1614(a)(2) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1382c(a)(2)), but who have not been determined to be disabled in accordance with Section 1614(a)(3) of that Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1382c(a)(3)), the income and resource standards and methodologies applied in determining eligibility under this section shall be identical to that of the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level program under Section 14005.40.

(e) The department shall implement an expedited application process to determine the Medi-Cal eligibility under this section for individuals who, based on excess income, are denied eligibility for the SSI/SSP program by the Social Security Administration. The department shall use its best efforts to identify these individuals from information provided by the Social Security Administration. The department shall also allow these individuals to self-identify by producing a copy of the notice of action that they received from the Social Security Administration informing them that their application for eligibility for the SSI/SSP program was denied based on excess income.

(f) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department shall implement this section by means of an all-county letter or similar instruction without taking regulatory action.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be read as entitling any individual to Medi-Cal benefits before his or her Medi-Cal eligibility determination has been completed.

(i) This section shall not change the procedures for redetermining a beneficiary’s eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits.

(j) The department shall seek any approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services necessary to obtain federal financial participation and to expeditiously implement this section.