§ 14132.731

(a) A Drug Medi-Cal certified provider shall receive reimbursement for individual counseling services provided through telehealth, as defined in Section 2290.5 of the Business and Professions Code, by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts or a registered or certified alcohol or other drug counselor, when medically necessary and in accordance with the Medicaid state plan.

(b) This section shall be implemented only to the extent federal financial participation is available and only if any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.

(c) The department shall adopt regulations by July 1, 2022, to implement this section in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(d) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, the department may, if it deems it appropriate, implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of provider bulletins, written guidelines, or similar instructions from the department, until regulations are adopted.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 500, Sec. 1. (AB 2861) Effective January 1, 2019.)