14197. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 418, Sec. 1.)

(c) Commencing July 1, 2018, for the covered benefits under its contracts, as applicable, a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall maintain a network of providers that are located within the following time or distance standards for the following services:

(1) For specialists, as defined in subdivision (i), adult and pediatric, including obstetric and gynecology specialty care, as follows:

(A) Up to 15 miles or 30 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

(B) Up to 30 miles or 60 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Marin, Placer, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Ventura.

(C) Up to 45 miles or 75 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Lake, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sutter, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba.

(D) Up to 60 miles or 90 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Alpine, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, San Benito, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, and Tuolumne.

(2) For pharmacy services, 10 miles or 30 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence.

(3) For outpatient mental health services, as follows:

(4) (A) For outpatient substance use disorder services other than opioid treatment programs, as follows:

(i) Up to 15 miles or 30 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

(ii) Up to 30 miles or 60 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Marin, Placer, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Ventura.

(iii) Up to 60 miles or 90 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.

(B) For opioid treatment programs, as follows:

(iii) Up to 45 miles or 75 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Lake, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sutter, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba.

(iv) Up to 60 miles or 90 minutes from the beneficiary’s place of residence for the following counties: Alpine, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, San Benito, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, and Tuolumne.

(d) (1) (A) A Medi-Cal managed care plan shall comply with the appointment time standards developed pursuant to Section 1367.03 of the Health and Safety Code, Section 1300.67.2.2 of Title 28 of the California Code of Regulations, subject to any authorized exceptions in Section 1300.67.2.2 of Title 28 of the California Code of Regulations, and the standards set forth in contracts entered into between the department and Medi-Cal managed care plans.

(B) Commencing July 1, 2018, subparagraph (A) applies to Medi-Cal managed care plans that are not, as of January 1, 2018, subject to the appointment time standards described in subparagraph (A).

(C) A Medi-Cal managed care plan shall ensure that each subcontractor network complies with the appointment time standards described in subparagraph (A), unless already required to ensure compliance.

(2) A Medi-Cal managed care plan shall comply with the following availability standards for skilled nursing facility services and intermediate care facility services, as follows:

(A) Within five business days of the request for the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

(B) Within seven business days of the request for the following counties: Marin, Placer, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Ventura.

(C) Within 14 calendar days of the request for the following counties: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Lake, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sutter, Tulare, Yolo, and Yuba.

(D) Within 14 calendar days of the request for the following counties: Alpine, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lassen, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, San Benito, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, and Tuolumne.

(3) A county Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery system shall provide an appointment within three business days to an opioid treatment program.

(4) A dental managed care plan shall provide an appointment within four weeks of a request for routine pediatric dental services and within 30 calendar days of a request for specialist pediatric dental services.

(e) The department may authorize a Medi-Cal managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction, as defined in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code, as a means of demonstrating compliance with the time or distance standards established pursuant to this section, as defined by the department. The use of telehealth providers to meet time or distance standards does not absolve the Medi-Cal managed care plan of responsibility to provide a beneficiary with access, including transportation, to in-person services if the beneficiary prefers.

(f) (1) The department may develop policies for granting credit in the determination of compliance with time or distance standards established pursuant to this section when Medi-Cal managed care plans contract with specified providers to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction, as defined in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code, and only for Medi-Cal managed care plans that cover at least 85 percent of the population points in the ZIP Code.

(2) The department, upon request of a Medi-Cal managed care plan, may authorize alternative access standards for the time or distance standards established under this section if either of the following occurs:

(A) The requesting Medi-Cal managed care plan has exhausted all other reasonable options to obtain providers to meet the applicable standard.

(B) The department determines that the requesting Medi-Cal managed care plan has demonstrated that its delivery structure is capable of delivering the appropriate level of care and access.

(3) (A) If a Medi-Cal managed care plan cannot meet the time or distance standards set forth in this section, the Medi-Cal managed care plan shall submit a request for alternative access standards to the department, in the form and manner specified by the department.

(B) An alternative access standard request may be submitted at the same time as the Medi-Cal managed care plan submits its annual demonstration of compliance with time or distance standards, if known at that time and at any time the Medi-Cal managed care plan is unable to meet time or distance standards.

(C) A Medi-Cal managed care plan is not required to submit a previously approved alternative access standard request to the department for review and approval on an annual basis, unless the Medi-Cal managed care plan requires modifications to its previously approved request. However, the Medi-Cal managed care plan shall submit this previously approved alternative access standard request to the department at least every three years for review and approval when the plan is required to demonstrate compliance with time or distance standards.

(i) Medi-Cal managed care plans that do not meet time or distance standards without the use of an alternative access standards request shall submit to the department documentation demonstrating efforts to contract with providers in those areas, based on guidance by the department.

(ii) Effective no sooner than contract periods commencing on or after January 1, 2026, the Medi-Cal managed care plan shall inform enrollees of their option to use or not use telehealth, covered transportation services, or out-of-network providers to access covered services if the health care provider is located outside of the time or distance standards specified in subdivision (c) in a manner specified by the department.

(D) A Medi-Cal managed care plan shall close out any corrective action plan deficiencies in a timely manner to ensure that beneficiary access is adequate and shall continually work to improve access in its provider network.

(4) A request for alternative access standards shall be approved or denied on a ZIP Code and provider type, including specialty type, basis by the department within 90 days of submission of the request. The Medi-Cal managed care plan shall also include a description of the reasons justifying the alternative access standards based on those facts and circumstances. Effective no sooner than contract periods commencing on or after July 1, 2020, the Medi-Cal managed care plan shall include a description on how the Medi-Cal managed care plan intends to arrange for enrollees to access covered services if the health care provider is located outside of the time or distance standards specified in subdivision (c). The department may stop the 90-day timeframe, on one or more occasions as necessary, in the event of an incomplete submission or to obtain additional information from the Medi-Cal managed care plan requesting the alternative access standards. Upon submission of sufficient additional information to the department, the 90-day timeframe shall resume at the same point in time it was previously stopped, except if there is less than 30 days remaining in which case the department shall approve or deny the request within 30 days of submission of sufficient additional information. If the department rejects the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s proposal, the department shall inform the Medi-Cal managed care plan of the department’s reason for rejecting the proposal. The department shall post any approved alternative access standards on its internet website.

(5) (A) As part of the department’s evaluation of a request submitted by a Medi-Cal managed care plan to utilize an alternative access standard pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall evaluate and determine whether the resulting time or distance is reasonable to expect a beneficiary to travel to receive care.

(B) Effective for contract periods commencing on or after January 1, 2027, as part of the department’s evaluation of a request pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall also consider the sufficiency of payment rates offered by the Medi-Cal managed care plan to the provider type or for the service type for which an alternative access standard is being requested.

(6) The department may authorize a Medi-Cal managed care plan to use clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction, as defined in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code, as part of an alternative access standard request.

(g) (1) (A) Effective for contract periods commencing on or after July 1, 2018, a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall, on an annual basis and when requested by the department, demonstrate to the department the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s compliance with the time or distance and appointment time standards developed pursuant to this section. The report shall measure compliance separately for adult and pediatric services for primary care, behavioral health, and core specialist services.

(B) (i) Effective for contract periods commencing on or after January 1, 2026, a Medi-Cal managed care plan shall, on an annual basis and when requested by the department, demonstrate to the department each subcontractor network’s compliance with the time or distance and appointment time standards developed pursuant to this section, including how the Medi-Cal managed care plan arranged for the delivery of Medi-Cal covered services to Medi-Cal enrollees, such as through the use of either Medi-Cal covered transportation or clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (f), if the enrollees of a Medi-Cal managed care plan needed to obtain health care services from a health care provider or a facility located outside of the time or distance standards, as specified in subdivision (c), in accordance with the CalAIM 1915(b) Waiver Special Terms and Conditions A4.

(ii) This subparagraph shall not apply to dental managed care plans, or to Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery systems as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 14184.101.

(2) Effective for contract periods commencing on or after July 1, 2020, the Medi-Cal managed care plan shall demonstrate, on an annual basis, and when requested by the department, to the department how the Medi-Cal managed care plan arranged for the delivery of Medi-Cal covered services to Medi-Cal enrollees, such as through the use of either Medi-Cal covered transportation or clinically appropriate video synchronous interaction, as specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (f), if the enrollees of a Medi-Cal managed care plan needed to obtain health care services from a health care provider or a facility located outside of the time or distance standards, as specified in subdivision (c). The report shall measure compliance separately for adult and pediatric services for primary care, behavioral health, and core specialist services.

(3) (A) Effective for contract periods commencing on or after July 1, 2018, the department shall evaluate on an annual basis a Medi-Cal managed care plan’s compliance with the time or distance and appointment time standards implemented pursuant to this section. This evaluation may include, but need not be limited to, annual and random surveys, investigation of complaints, grievances, or other indicia of noncompliance. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit the appeal rights of a Medi-Cal managed care plan under its contracts with the department.

(B) Effective for contract periods commencing on or after January 1, 2029, the evaluation by the department for appointment time standards compliance as described in this paragraph shall be performed using a direct testing method, which shall include, but need not be limited to, a “secret shopper” method. The direct testing shall be used to evaluate compliance with the appointment time standards set forth in subdivision (d) for appointments. To determine compliance with the urgent care standard, the evaluation shall measure the network’s ability to provide urgent care within 48 hours pursuant to Section 1367.03 of the Health and Safety Code and Section 1300.67.2.2(c)(5)(A) of Title 28 of the California Code of Regulations. The evaluation shall also utilize a method for accounting for and reporting the number of providers who are unavailable or unreachable for purposes of the evaluation.

(C) Failure to comply with the evaluations required by this paragraph may result in contract termination or the issuance of sanctions pursuant to Section 14197.7.

(4) The department shall publish annually on its internet website a report that details the department’s findings in evaluating a Medi-Cal managed care plan’s compliance under paragraph (2). At a minimum, the department shall specify in this report those Medi-Cal managed care plans, if any, that were subject to a corrective action plan due to noncompliance with the time or distance and appointment time standards implemented pursuant to this section during the applicable year and the basis for the department’s finding of noncompliance. The report shall include a Medi-Cal managed care plan’s response to the corrective plan, if available.

(h) The department shall consult with Medi-Cal managed care plans, including dental managed care plans, mental health plans, and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System programs, health care providers, consumers, providers and consumers of long-term services and supports, and organizations representing Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the implementation of the requirements of this section.

(i) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Medi-Cal managed care plan” means any individual, organization, or entity that enters into a contract with the department to provide services to enrolled Medi-Cal beneficiaries pursuant to any of the following:

(A) Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 14087.3), including dental managed care programs developed pursuant to Section 14087.46.

(B) Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5).

(C) Article 2.81 (commencing with Section 14087.96).

(D) Article 2.82 (commencing with Section 14087.98).

(E) Article 2.9 (commencing with Section 14088).

(F) Article 2.91 (commencing with Section 14089).

(G) Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), including dental managed care plans.

(H) Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700).

(I) A county Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery system authorized under the California Medi-Cal 2020 Demonstration pursuant to Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 14184) or a successor demonstration or waiver, as applicable.

(2) “Specialist” means any of the following:

(A) Cardiology/interventional cardiology.

(B) Nephrology.

(C) Dermatology.

(D) Neurology.

(E) Endocrinology.

(F) Ophthalmology.

(G) Ear, nose, and throat/otolaryngology.

(H) Orthopedic surgery.

(I) Gastroenterology.

(J) Physical medicine and rehabilitation.

(K) General surgery.

(L) Psychiatry.

(M) Hematology.

(N) Oncology.

(O) Pulmonology.

(P) HIV/AIDS specialists/infectious diseases.

(3) “Subcontractor network” means a provider network of a subcontractor or downstream subcontractor, wherein the subcontractor or downstream subcontractor is delegated risk and is responsible for arranging for the provision of, and paying for, covered services as stated in their subcontractor or downstream subcontractor agreement.

(j) (1) The department may require enhanced time or distance standards that are more stringent than those set forth in this section in its contracts with Medi-Cal managed care plans. However, the other requirements of this section shall otherwise apply.

(2) The department shall ensure that enhanced time or distance standards contracted for with Medi-Cal managed care plans are consistent across contracts for similar geographic classifications.

(3) The department shall publish all enhanced time and distance standards adopted by contract with a rationale for the enhanced standards.

(k) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time regulations are adopted.

(l) The department shall seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to implement this section. This section shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized.

(m) (1) In alignment with federal regulation that requires the department to conduct analyses when developing or adjusting network adequacy standards, the department shall publish on the department’s internet website by January 1, 2027, a workplan that includes an explanation of the department’s approach to updating network adequacy standards, a description of the data, and a summary of the analyses that will inform the department’s approach.

(2) By January 1, 2027, the department shall convene a stakeholder workgroup to assist in the development of evidence-based network adequacy standards informed by the analyses described in paragraph (1).

(3) The department shall provide a 30-day public comment period before implementing any changes to network adequacy standards.

(n) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2029, deletes or extends that date.