Residential care facilities for the elderly: assisted living waiver rental rate protection.

Senator Wahab's legislation modifies rent control provisions for residential care facilities serving elderly Medi-Cal beneficiaries while adjusting how resident income affects program eligibility. The bill permits state health and social services departments to waive existing prohibitions on rent controls when implementing assisted living benefits through Medi-Cal.

For facilities contracted with Medi-Cal, the legislation establishes a cap on resident charges. These facilities cannot bill residents more than the difference between their countable income and the personal needs allowance established for Supplemental Security Income recipients in non-medical residential care. The bill also excludes a portion of residents' retained income when calculating Medi-Cal eligibility, up to the personal needs allowance threshold.

The measure creates new oversight responsibilities for counties conducting Medi-Cal eligibility determinations. While the bill does not require state reimbursement for mandates related to criminal provisions, other costs imposed on local agencies may qualify for compensation pending review by the Commission on State Mandates. Implementation remains contingent on securing necessary federal approvals to maintain Medicaid funding.