Assembly Bill No. 649 Developmental Services (Amended in Assembly on May 18, 2023)
This assembly bill was introduced by Assembly Member Wilson on February 9, 2023. The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act designates the State Department of Developmental Services with the responsibility of providing diverse services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities, ensuring the appropriateness and quality of such services and supports. In accordance with this law, the department enters into contracts with regional centers to furnish services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities. Under current law, regional centers are barred from procuring services available from sources such as Medi-Cal, Medicare, and private insurance if a consumer or their family qualifies for coverage but opts not to pursue it. Additionally, regional centers cannot procure medical or dental services for a consumer aged 3 or older unless documentation of a denial from Medi-Cal, private insurance, or a health care service plan is provided, and the regional center determines that an appeal of the denial lacks merit.
This bill seeks to eliminate both of these prohibitions on regional center purchases. It also removes the requirement for the regional center to assess the merit of an appeal by the consumer or their family regarding the denial. Furthermore, the bill specifies that a consumer or family is not obligated to appeal the denial of services from another agency with a legal responsibility to serve the general public and is receiving public funds for providing those services for a regional center to procure those services as part of a consumer's individual program plan.