Medi-Cal: acupuncture.

The acupuncture benefit provision was restructured. The old version made acupuncture unconditionally covered starting January 1, 2027 regardless of federal financial participation. The new version adds a two-tier structure: (A) acupuncture is covered subject to utilization controls and the availability of federal financial participation, and (B) if FFP is not available, acupuncture remains covered but is subject to utilization controls and a legislative appropriation. This makes state-funded coverage a fallback rather than the default.

The bill now incorporates additional changes to Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 1949 and AB 350. These incorporated provisions are operative only if SB 944 and either or both AB 1949 and AB 350 are all enacted, and SB 944 is enacted last.

Fixed a duplicated term in the prescription form provision: 'tamper resistant tamper-resistant' was corrected to 'tamper-resistant.'

Updated the amendment date from August 13, 2026 to August 20, 2026, with the prior date retained as a secondary line.

Acupuncture changes from a benefit available only when federal matching funds are provided to a benefit available regardless of federal financial participation, effective January 1, 2027.

A new condition requires an appropriation made by the Legislature for acupuncture coverage to take effect, meaning the state must explicitly fund the benefit.

Acupuncture coverage is subject to utilization controls in addition to the appropriation requirement.

Subdivision (a) is restructured with new paragraph numbering: general outpatient services move to paragraph (1) and the new acupuncture provision becomes paragraph (2).

The term 'tamper resistant' is hyphenated to 'tamper-resistant' in subdivision (d)(3), a minor stylistic correction.