MedicaidAdministrativeHigh impact
23-1180m Providers Must Meet Medi-Cal In-Person Referral Requirement for Telehealth
Health Net·CA·Provider News
Effective date
Jan 1, 2024
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
Effective January 1, 2024, Medi-Cal providers offering telehealth services must either provide the same services in-person or arrange referrals to in-person care. Providers must maintain referral protocols and facilitate referrals by sharing clinical data when telehealth cannot meet the standard of care.
Action Required
Immediately: Providers offering telehealth services must establish protocols for in-person referrals when telehealth cannot meet standard of care. Update practice workflows to ensure all telehealth providers can either offer same services in-person or have referral arrangements in place. Document referral protocols and train staff on facilitation requirements including clinical data sharing. Failure to comply may result in Medi-Cal claim denials for telehealth services.