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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 9Pt. 3Ch. 8Art. 2§ 14251 Prepaid Medicaid Health Plans

§ 14251 Prepaid Medicaid Health Plans

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14251 Prepaid Medicaid Health Plans

Key Takeaways

  • •A 'prepaid health plan' is a special kind of health plan that must follow certain rules to work with the state's Medicaid program (Medi-Cal).
  • •These plans must be licensed by the state and agree to provide health services to Medi-Cal patients for a set fee.
  • •Some plans can get special permission (a waiver) from the state if certain rules don’t fit their situation.
  • •A 'fiscal intermediary at risk' is a type of plan that gets a fixed amount of money from the state to cover health services and takes on the risk of managing those costs.

Example

Imagine a health plan called 'HealthyLife' that wants to work with Medi-Cal to provide doctor visits and hospital care to people in California.

HealthyLife must be licensed by the state and agree to provide these services for a set fee per person. If HealthyLife follows all the rules, it can be a 'prepaid health plan' and get paid by the state to take care of Medi-Cal patients. If some rules don’t make sense for HealthyLife, the state might give them a special pass (waiver) to skip those rules.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14251 Prepaid Medicaid Health Plans

(a) (1) “Prepaid health plan” means a plan that meets all of the following criteria: (A)  Is licensed as a health care service plan by the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code), other than a plan organized and operating pursuant to Section 10810 of the Corporations Code that substantially indemnifies subscribers or enrollees for the cost of provided services, or has an application for licensure pending and was registered under the Knox-Mills Health Plan Act prior to its repeal. (B) Meets the requirements for participation in the Medicaid program (Title XIX of the Social Security Act) on an at-risk basis. (C) Agrees with the State Department of Health Care Services to furnish directly or indirectly health services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries on a predetermined periodic rate basis. (2) “Prepaid health plan” includes any organization that is licensed as a plan pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 and is subject to regulation by the Department of Managed Health Care pursuant to that act, and that contracts with the State Department of Health Care Services solely as a fiscal intermediary at risk. (b) (1) Except for the requirement of licensure pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, the State Director of Health Care Services may waive any provision of this chapter that the director determines is inappropriate for a fiscal intermediary at risk. An exemption or waiver shall be set forth in the fiscal intermediary at-risk contract with the State Department of Health Care Services. (2) “Fiscal intermediary at risk” means any entity that entered into a contract with the State Department of Health Care Services on a pilot basis pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 14000, as in effect June 1, 1973, in accordance with which the entity received capitated payments from the state and reimbursed providers of health care services on a fee-for-service or other basis for at least the basic scope of health care services, as defined in Section 14256, provided to all beneficiaries covered by the contract residing within a specified geographic region of the state. The fiscal intermediary at risk shall be at risk for the cost of administration and utilization of services or the cost of services, or both, for at least the basic scope of health care services, as defined in Section 14256, provided to all beneficiaries covered by the contract residing within a specified geographic region of the state. The fiscal intermediary at risk may share the risk with providers or reinsuring agencies or both. Eligibility of beneficiaries shall be determined by the State Department of Health Care Services and capitation payments shall be based on the number of beneficiaries so determined. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 455, Sec. 53. (SB 804) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

prepaid health planKnox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1

Related Statutes

  • § 14253 Prepaid Health Plan Subcontracts
  • § 14258 Prepaid Health Plan Areas
  • § 14261 Prepaid Health Plan Vendors
  • § 14263 Prepaid Health Plan Marketing
  • § 14264 Marketing Organization Definition

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 14251.
View Official Source