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AB 2756

Medi-Cal: vision services: performance measures.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Ahrens and 16 co-sponsors

Establishes performance measures and public reporting to track Medi-Cal vision service utilization, access, and provider data to improve transparency and outcomes.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 2756

Summary of AB 2756 (2025-2026) — Medi-Cal: vision services: performance measures

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as amended and the sponsor statements included in AB 2756, relating to the Medi-Cal program in California.

1) Purpose and intent

  • Goal: Create a structured framework to monitor, evaluate, and publicly report on the quality, utilization, and access to Medi-Cal vision services (for both children and adults).
  • Rationale: Vision health is critical for learning, development, and overall well-being. The bill seeks to improve transparency, identify disparities in access, and support evidence-based policy decisions to enhance early detection and treatment of vision conditions among Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

2) Key provisions and changes the bill would make

  • New statutory provision added: Section 14132.916 to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
  • Establishment of performance measures
    • The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) must establish a list of performance measures to assess the vision services under Medi-Cal, focusing on utilization, access, and availability.
    • Measures must cover both children and adults enrolled in Medi-Cal and apply to both fee-for-service and managed care (including specialized plans).
  • Specific performance measures (sample list)
    • Overall utilization of vision services (aggregate and per-provider).
    • Time to receive vision services (eye examination) and time from exam to receipt of eyeglasses.
    • Number of rendering providers annually, including claims per provider and provider credentials (providers may include optometrists, ophthalmologists, pediatricians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, etc.).
    • Annual number of complaints from Medi-Cal beneficiaries regarding vision services or access, to various plans and dispensing entities.
    • Annual refractive error diagnoses.
    • For each rendering provider: number of eye examinations, vision screening tests, eyeglasses prescribed, and eyeglasses dispensed.
  • Reporting format and data sources
    • Reports must be presented as aggregate numbers and, where appropriate, as percentages.
    • Data should align with standards used by managed care entities where feasible.
    • Reporting shall cover both fee-for-service and managed care, including specialized plans.
    • An equity framework must be used, with data stratified by geography, race/ethnicity, primary language, age, and gender to identify disparities.
    • The department should only report on a measure if an existing data source is available; there is no mandate to create new data collection systems or to report on measures without existing data.
  • Evaluation criteria for updating measures
    • When considering retention, addition, or deletion of measures, the department must weigh:
    • Annual and multi-year Medi-Cal vision services data trends.
    • Other state and national vision program performance measures and ratings.
  • Public posting and benchmarks
    • By January 1, 2028 (for calendar year 2026 data), the department must post the list of performance measures and the corresponding data on its website.
    • Benchmarks: After the initial reporting year, the department must establish benchmarks for each measure. The initial benchmarks for 2027 must be at least double those of 2026, with continued annual benchmarking thereafter.
    • Stakeholder engagement: Development of measures and benchmarks must involve consultation with health plans, vision plan representatives, counties, ophthalmic/optometric societies, nonprofits, legal aid entities, and other interested parties.
  • Complaints and grievances reporting
    • The department must annually prepare a summary report of complaints and grievances related to access to and quality of vision services, including outcomes.
    • Beginning January 1, 2028 (for 2026 data) and annually thereafter, this report must be posted on the department’s website.
    • The report may utilize existing data sources and is not allowed to require new data collection beyond current sources.

3) Who or what would be affected

  • Beneficiaries: Medi-Cal beneficiaries (including children and adults) who receive vision-related services (exams, glasses, screening, etc.) would be subject to the new performance monitoring and reporting.
  • Providers: Rendering vision service providers (optometrists, ophthalmologists, pediatricians, PAs, NPs, etc.) and dispensing entities (dispensing opticians) would be included in utilization metrics and provider-level reporting.
  • DHCS: Responsible for developing, posting, and updating the performance measures, benchmarks, and annual complaint/grievance summaries, using existing data sources where available.
  • Stakeholders: Health plans, vision plans, counties, professional societies, nonprofits, and legal aid groups would be consulted in the development and benchmarking processes.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Data posting timeline
    • By January 1, 2028: The list of performance measures and associated data for the 2026 calendar year must be posted on the DHCS website.
  • Benchmarking timeline
    • Initial benchmarks: For the 2027 calendar year, benchmarks must be at least double those of 2026.
    • Ongoing: Benchmarks will be set annually for each measure to guide improvements in utilization, access, and availability.
  • Reporting cadence
    • Annual preparation and posting of a summary report on complaints and grievances, starting with the 2026 calendar year data and continuing each year thereafter.
  • Data limitations
    • The bill emphasizes using existing data sources and does not require new data collection mechanisms to be created by the department to report on the measures.

5) Fiscal and legislative notes

  • The bill has a Fiscal Committee note (indicating potential budget considerations) and a clear non-appropriation stance (no direct appropriation proposed in the text provided).
  • The bill includes standard legislative reporting and transparency commitments, with stakeholder engagement obligations.

Overall, AB 2756 aims to bring structured, data-driven oversight to Medi-Cal vision care, improve transparency around access and quality, and push for measurable improvements in vision health outcomes for California's Medi-Cal population.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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