(

a) To the extent that federal financial participation is available, the department shall exercise the option made available under

Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(

I) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I)) to extend full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals who are ineligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits under a program listed in subdivision (

c) as a result of the July 1, 2009, reduction in the SSI/SSP program maximum aid payments pursuant to

Section 12200.019, or any subsequent reductions in maximum aid payments. (

b) The programs authorized under this

section shall utilize the income and resource standards and methodologies of the SSI/SSP program and in addition an income disregard shall be applied as necessary to adjust the income standard to that which was in place for the affected program on May 1, 2009. (c)

(1) The SSI/SSP program under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act.

(2) The Pickle program under the Pickle Amendment to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (Public Law 94-566).

(3) The Disabled Adult Child program under

Section of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

Sec. 1383c).

(4) The Disabled Widow or Widower program under

Section of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

Sec. 1383c). (

d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), for the purposes of this section, for blind individuals who meet the criteria for blindness as set forth in

Section 1614(a)(2) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

Sec. 1382c(a)(2)), but who have not been determined to be disabled in accordance with

Section 1614(a)(3) of that Act (42 U.S.C.

Sec. 1382c(a)(3)), the income and resource standards and methodologies applied in determining eligibility under this

section shall be identical to that of the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level program under

Section 14005.40. (

e) The department shall implement an expedited application process to determine the Medi-Cal eligibility under this

section for individuals who, based on excess income, are denied eligibility for the SSI/SSP program by the Social Security Administration. The department shall use its best efforts to identify these individuals from information provided by the Social Security Administration. The department shall also allow these individuals to self-identify by producing a copy of the notice of action that they received from the Social Security Administration informing them that their application for eligibility for the SSI/SSP program was denied based on excess income. (

f) Notwithstanding

Chapter 3.5 (commencing with

Section 11340) of Part of Division of Title of the Government Code, the department shall implement this

section by means of an all-county letter or similar instruction without taking regulatory action. (

g) This

section shall cease to be implemented when the SSI/SSP program payment levels increase beyond those in effect on May 1, 2009. (

h) Nothing in this

section shall be read as entitling any individual to Medi-Cal benefits before his or her Medi-Cal eligibility determination has been completed. (

i) This

section shall not change the procedures for redetermining a beneficiary’s eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits. (

j) The department shall seek any approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services necessary to obtain federal financial participation and to expeditiously implement this section.