DHCS issued an All Plan Letter to guide managed care plans about the administration of the End of Life Option Act benefit. This benefit allows terminally ill beneficiaries over the age of 18 with the capacity to make medical decisions to be prescribed aid-in-dying medications if they meet certain conditions. Coverage is carved out of managed care plans, so effective June 9, 2016, physicians must seek reimbursement through Medi-Cal Fee for Service.
If a managed care doctor also contracts under fee for service, that physician may choose to become the beneficiary’s attending physician through the steps of obtaining end of life services. Services provided after the initial visit are no longer the responsibility of the managed care plan. Managed care physicians who are not FFS providers would need to advise beneficiaries about seeking out FFS providers.
DHCS APL 16-006 (June 2016).