Medi-Cal: provider directory: skilled nursing facilities.

Senator Ochoa Bogh’s measure would place skilled nursing facilities as a searchable provider type within the Medi-Cal managed care provider directory and require the directory to be updated annually, with the information made readily accessible to the public. This change centers on making SNFs searchable alongside other Medi-Cal managed care providers within the department’s health care options directory.

The new provision adds a dedicated section to the Welfare and Institutions Code establishing that the provider directory, maintained on the Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Care Options website and through other mechanisms, must list skilled nursing facilities as an available searchable provider type. Implementation is to occur in conjunction with related directory provisions and applicable regulations, including state and federal requirements cited within the bill. Definitions tie “Medi-Cal managed care plan” to an existing statutory definition and “skilled nursing facility” to the Health and Safety Code’s SNF definition. The department is required to annually update the directory to ensure information remains accurate and publicly accessible.

In terms of regulatory and operational mechanics, the measure signals alignment with existing directory provisions and cross‑references to corresponding state and federal rules. While it implies modifications to the directory’s data model to support SNF searchability, the text does not specify exact data fields. The annual update cadence establishes ongoing data governance, with responsibility presumed to rest with the department under current oversight structures; no new funding allocation is specified in the measure, and penalties or enforcement mechanisms are not enumerated within the text.

For stakeholders, beneficiaries and Medi‑Cal enrollees would gain direct access to SNFs within the managed care directory, potentially aiding facility selection within the Medi-Cal network. Skilled nursing facilities may experience higher visibility and will need to verify or supply information used in the directory. Medi‑Cal managed care plans would need to coordinate data about SNF network participation to keep directory listings accurate. The measure emphasizes public accessibility and alignment with existing regulatory frameworks, while leaving implementation details, timing, and enforcement to established processes and future administrative guidance.