SENATOR OCHOA BOGH'S SB 250 TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AWAITS GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE

The following information was released by California State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh:

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (RYucaipa) announced that her bill,Senate Bill 250, which ensures skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are included in California's Medi-Cal managed care provider directory, has passed the Legislature and now awaits Governor Newsom's signature.

SB 250 addresses a longstanding gap in the Medi-Cal provider directory by requiring the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to publicly list skilled nursing facilities and update that information annually. While state law already requires health plans to maintain directories of contracted providers, the DHCS directory currently omits SNFs, leaving beneficiaries without a centralized, reliable resource to identify facilities covered by their Medi-Cal managed care plan.

"As California's senior and disabled populations grow, families need clear, accurate, and timely information to make critical care decisions," said Senator Ochoa Bogh. "SB 250 removes unnecessary barriers by giving Medi-Cal recipients a reliable directory of skilled nursing facilities that accept their coverage."

The Legislative Analyst's Office projects the number of Californians aged 65 and older with disabilities will grow by 135 percent from 1.2 million to 2.7 million by 2060. Many of these individuals, along with younger people living with disabilities, may require long-term care in skilled nursing facilities. For the nearly 737,000 seniors and persons with disabilities who are only eligible for Medi-Cal, the absence of a public, centralized directory makes it especially difficult to find a suitable facility that aligns with their managed care coverage.

"This bill ensures that older adults and people with disabilities overwhelmed by our complex Long Term Care system can easily access information on skilled nursing facilities that accept their insurance plan," said Maura Gibney, Executive Director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform(CANHR). "CANHR thanks Senator Ochoa Bogh for her support of this important legislation, which eases the burden of thousands of families annually who navigate this complicated system while dealing with serious and often unexpected medical emergencies."

With nearly 1,200 skilled nursing facilities operating in California as of August 2025, SB 250 ensures that information already collected by DHCS is made publicly available and updated regularly. This will allow Medi-Cal beneficiaries and their families to make informed decisions when choosing both a facility and a managed care plan.

SB 250 is now on Governor Newsom's desk for consideration.