2011 California Code
Welfare and Institutions Code
DIVISION 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES [10000 - 18996]
ARTICLE 3. Administration
Section 14301.1

(a) For rates established on or after August 1, 2007, the department shall pay capitation rates to health plans participating in the Medi-Cal managed care program using actuarial methods and may establish health-plan- and county-specific rates. The department shall utilize a county- and model-specific rate methodology to develop Medi-Cal managed care capitation rates for contracts entered into between the department and any entity pursuant to Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 14087.3), Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5), and Article 2.91 (commencing with Section 14089) of Chapter 7 that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Health-plan-specific encounter and claims data.

(2) Supplemental utilization and cost data submitted by the health plans.

(3) Fee-for-service data for the underlying county of operation or other appropriate counties as deemed necessary by the department.

(4) Department of Managed Health Care financial statement data specific to Medi-Cal operations.

(5) Other demographic factors, such as age, gender, or diagnostic-based risk adjustments, as the department deems appropriate.

(b) To the extent that the department is unable to obtain sufficient actual plan data, it may substitute plan model, similar plan, or county-specific fee-for-service data.

(c) The department shall develop rates that include administrative costs, and may apply different administrative costs with respect to separate aid code groups.

(d) The department shall develop rates that shall include, but are not limited to, assumptions for underwriting, return on investment, risk, contingencies, changes in policy, and a detailed review of health plan financial statements to validate and reconcile costs for use in developing rates.

(e) The department may develop rates that pay plans based on performance incentives, including quality indicators, access to care, and data submission.

(f) The department may develop and adopt condition-specific payment rates for health conditions, including, but not limited to, childbirth delivery.

(g) (1) Prior to finalizing Medi-Cal managed care capitation rates, the department shall provide health plans with information on how the rates were developed, including rate sheets for that specific health plan, and provide the plans with the opportunity to provide additional supplemental information.

(2) For contracts entered into between the department and any entity pursuant to Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5) of Chapter 7, the department, by June 30 of each year, or, if the budget has not passed by that date, no later than five working days after the budget is signed, shall provide preliminary rates for the upcoming fiscal year.

(h) For the purposes of developing capitation rates through implementation of this ratesetting methodology, Medi-Cal managed care health plans shall provide the department with financial and utilization data in a form and substance as deemed necessary by the department to establish rates. This data shall be considered proprietary and shall be exempt from disclosure as official information pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 6254 of the Government Code as contained in the California Public Records Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 6250) of Title 1 of the Government Code).

(i) The department shall report, upon request, to the fiscal and policy committees of the respective houses of the Legislature regarding implementation of this section.

(j) Prior to October 1, 2011, the risk-adjusted countywide capitation rate shall comprise no more than 20 percent of the total capitation rate paid to each Medi-Cal managed care plan.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 717, Sec. 162. Effective October 19, 2010.)