(a) The department shall notify Medi-Cal beneficiaries, prospective beneficiaries, and members of the public of all of the following information:
(1) The availability of language assistance services, including oral interpretation and translated written materials, free of charge and in a timely manner, when those services are necessary to provide meaningful access to individuals with limited English proficiency.
(2) The availability of appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters for individuals with disabilities and information in alternate formats, free of charge and in a timely manner, when those aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate for individuals with disabilities.
(3) The department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
(4) The availability of the grievance procedure and how to file a grievance, including identification of, and contact information for, the designated department representative.
(5) How to file a discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights if there is a concern of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
(b) Written notice of the availability of free language assistance services shall be provided in English and in the top 15 languages spoken by limited-English-proficient individuals in California, as determined by the department, and consistent with the requirements identified in Part 92 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations and Section 1557 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 18116).
(c) (1) The information described in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be provided in the following manner:
(A) In the department’s Medi-Cal informational publications.
(B) Posted in conspicuous physical locations where the department interacts with the public.
(C) On the department’s Internet Web site, in a manner that allows beneficiaries, prospective beneficiaries, and members of the public to easily locate the information.
(2) To the extent the information described in subdivisions (a) and (b) is not included in existing informational notices, the department shall add this information at the time of the next regularly scheduled update of the applicable publication.
(d) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 771, Sec. 6. (SB 223) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018