California Children’s Services Program: providers.

Assembly Member Hoover's legislation expands California's Children's Services (CCS) Program by authorizing nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists to become approved providers through a new paneling process. The bill establishes formal pathways for these advanced practice providers to deliver care within the CCS system, which serves physically handicapped children whose families cannot afford necessary medical services.

Under the proposed changes, qualified advanced practice providers must complete an online application through the CCS website to receive panel approval before treating program participants. The Department of Health Care Services must acknowledge applications within five business days and render decisions within ten business days. Once approved, these providers can independently perform initial and continuing care services, including writing progress notes, ordering diagnostics, prescribing medications and equipment, and requesting specialty consultations without physician cosignatures.

The legislation also modifies provider qualifications and billing procedures. Advanced practice providers must hold current state licenses, maintain board certification, and demonstrate at least two years of post-training pediatric experience, including one year treating CCS-eligible conditions. Those enrolled as Medi-Cal ordering, referring, and prescribing providers gain authorization to directly bill the program for office and inpatient visits. The bill retains existing requirements for prior authorization of services and electronic submission of authorization requests through the department's designated systems.