Section 14013.5.

(a) Pursuant to, and only to the extent required by, Section 1940 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396w) and subject to the provisions of this section, the department shall implement an asset verification program for the purpose of determining or redetermining the eligibility of an applicant for, or recipient of, Medi-Cal benefits on the basis of being aged, blind, or disabled.

(b) (1) Any applicant or recipient described in subdivision (a), and any other person whose resources are required by law to be disclosed to determine the eligibility of the applicant or recipient, shall provide authorization for the department to obtain from any financial institution any financial record held by the institution with respect to the applicant or recipient, and any other person, as applicable, whenever the department determines the record is needed in connection with a determination with respect to the eligibility for, or the amount or extent of, the medical assistance.

(2) The department's obtaining of financial records pursuant to this section shall be subject to the cost reimbursement requirements of Section 1115(a) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3415(a)) and shall be at no cost to the applicant, recipient, or any other person.

(3) An authorization under this subdivision shall not be required for any applicant or recipient whose assets have been verified by the federal Social Security Administration.

(4) An authorization under this subdivision shall only be required for those applicants and recipients as required by federal law and federal guidance.

(c) As used in this section:

(1) "Financial institution" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1101(1) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3401(1)).

(2) "Financial record" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1101(2) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3401(2)).

(3) "Any other person" shall mean the spouse of an applicant or recipient, a parent of an unemancipated minor, or any other person whose resources are required by federal law to be disclosed to determine the eligibility of the applicant or recipient.

(d) An authorization provided to the department under subdivision (b) shall remain effective until the earlier of:

(1) The rendering of a final adverse decision on the applicant's application for medical assistance.

(2) The cessation of the recipient's eligibility for the medical assistance.

(3) The express revocation by the applicant or recipient, or other required person, as applicable, of the authorization, in a written notification to the department.

(e) (1) An authorization obtained by the department under subdivision (b) shall be considered as meeting the requirements of Section 1103(a) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3403(a)) and, notwithstanding Section 1104(a) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3404(a)), need not be furnished to the financial institution.

(2) The certification requirements of Section 1103(b) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3403(b)) shall not apply to requests by the department or its designee pursuant to an authorization provided under subdivision (b).

(3) A request by the department or its designee pursuant to an authorization provided under subdivision (b) shall be deemed to meet the requirements of Section 1104(a)(3) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3404(a)(3)) and of Section 1102 of the act (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3402), relating to a reasonable description of financial records.

(f) If an applicant for, or recipient of, medical assistance, or other required person, as applicable, refuses to provide, or revokes, any authorization made by the applicant or recipient, or other required person, as applicable, for the department to obtain from any financial institution any financial record, the department may, on that basis, determine that the applicant or recipient is ineligible for medical assistance.

(g) The department shall provide the applicant or recipient with notice of the asset verification requirement of this section, including privacy protections and the duration and scope of the authorization, prior to the applicant or recipient being requested to provide the authorization required by subdivision (b).

(h) The department shall, in coordination with the counties and advocates, develop criteria regarding how and when the authorization required under subdivision (b) will be required, how and when verification will be required, what standards will be used, and the content of the notice to the applicants and recipients described in subdivision (g) concerning the authorization.

(i) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department shall implement, without taking any regulatory action, this section by means of an all-county letter or similar instruction. Thereafter, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(j) To implement this section, the department may contract with public or private entities that shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations on use and disclosure of information as would apply if the department were to implement this section directly. In order to demonstrate good faith efforts to meet federal implementation requirements of Section 1940 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396w) and to avoid any withholding of federal financial participation, the Legislature hereby determines that an expedited contract process for contracts under this section is necessary. Therefore, contracts under this section shall be exempt from Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code and any policies, procedures, or regulations authorized by that part. Contracts under this section shall be exempt from the requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 34. Effective July 28, 2009.)