California legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB1949: Medi-Cal: acupuncture treatments.
Status: Vetoed, September 30, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend Section 14132 of, and to add Section 14133.03 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal: acupuncture treatments. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including pharmacy services and drugs. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions…
From the enrolled text, August 30, 2026:
An act to amend Section 14132 of, and to add Section 14133.03 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal: acupuncture treatments. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including pharmacy services and drugs. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits covered under the Medi-Cal program, including acupuncture, but only to the extent federal matching funds are provided for acupuncture. To the extent federal financial participation is available, this bill would require the Medi-Cal program to cover up to 24 acupuncture visits per beneficiary per calendar year and would state that additional visits per calendar year may be authorized based on medical necessity. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 350 and SB 944 to be operative only if this bill and either or both AB 350 and SB 944 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would make certain provisions operative only if both this bill and SB 944 is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2027. MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO …
Sponsors
- Alex Lee (D, AD24) · primary sponsor
- Jessica Caloza (D, AD52)
Latest actions
- : Vetoed by Governor.
- : Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
- : Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6573.).
- : Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).
- : In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- : Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.).
- : Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- : Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
- : Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- : From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (August 13).
Votes
- AB 1949 Lee Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 26, 2026): 78 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Assembly 3rd Reading AB1949 Lee et al. By Wiener (August 25, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do pass (August 13, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Placed on suspense file (June 22, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 10, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AB 1949 Lee Assembly Third Reading (May 26, 2026): 77 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is AB1949?
- AB1949 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Medi-Cal: acupuncture treatments.
- What does AB1949 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Section 14132 of, and to add Section 14133.03 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal Medi-Cal: acupuncture treatments. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including pharmacy services and drugs. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions…
- What is the status of AB1949?
- Vetoed as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: Vetoed by Governor. (September 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored AB1949?
- Alex Lee (D, AD24), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for AB1949?
- On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1949
Source: official California record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.