California Medicaid Restores Coverage for Adult Podiatry, Eyeglasses & Speech Therapy

As of January 1, 2020, California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) restored coverage for some optional health benefits that had been eliminated for most beneficiaries. The restored benefits include optician and optical lab services, audiology and speech therapy, podiatry, and incontinence creams and washes. The state’s budget for 2019 to 2020 provides $17.4 million to pay for the restored services.

Medi-Cal covers approximately 13 million people, including 7.5 million adults. Funding of $17.4 million has been allocated for fiscal year 2019-2020 to cover the costs of the restored services for fee-for-service Medi-Cal beneficiaries . . .