Welf. & Inst. Code, § 14019

(a) (1) Notwithstanding Section 14018, except as provided in Section 14019.6, Medi-Cal eligibility shall be authorization for payment for health care services rendered, under conditions prescribed by the director and to the extent required by federal law, during any of the three months immediately prior to the month in which application was made, and for which such person would have otherwise been eligible.

(2) For an application made on or after the first day of the first quarter that begins after December 31, 2026, by an applicant described in Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of Title 42 of the United States Code, or by an applicant for state-funded Medi-Cal coverage who meets the same criteria described in that federal provision, Medi-Cal eligibility shall be authorization for payment for health care services rendered, under conditions prescribed by the director and to the extent required by federal law during the month immediately prior to the month the application was made, and for which that person would have otherwise been eligible, notwithstanding Section 14018.

(3) For an application made on or after the first day of the first quarter that begins after December 31, 2026, by any applicant except those described in paragraph (2), Medi-Cal eligibility shall be authorization for payment for health care services rendered, under conditions prescribed by the director and to the extent required by federal law during either of the two months immediately prior to the month the application was made, and for which that person would have otherwise been eligible, notwithstanding Section 14018.

(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, in whole or in part, by means of plan or county letters, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or other similar instructions, without taking any further regulatory action.

(c) (1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall be implemented only after the director determines, and communicates in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation of this section.

(2) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and that federal financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized.