DRA Implementation Delayed

The legislation authorizing the implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 Medicaid changes has been delayed. Although Senator Kuehl and the sponsors agreed to accept the Department's proposed amendments for the DRA implementation into her bill SB 483, there was insufficient time to get amendments to and from Legislative Counsel. Currently SB 483 only includes language that would increase the DRA equity limit from $500,000 to $750,000. SB 483 will be heard next year and will include the Department's proposed language. Meanwhile, you can take a look at the DRA Side by Side chart, which is on the CANHR web site under Medi-Cal for Long Term Care and the link "DRA Implementation as of 8/16/07." You can access the chart at the following link:

http://www.canhr.org/medcal/medcal_DRAImplementation031607.htm

The side-by-side chart compares the DRA provisions, current California law, and how the proposed amendments would impact home and facility long term care Medi-Cal in California. Remember that regulations will still need to be promulgated before any of this will be effective, so it will likely be at least 2009 before implementation.