California Department of Social Services - State Hearings Division
Notes from the Training Bureau - June 17, 2002

Subject:  Medi-Cal Coverage for Children Under the Safe Arms for Newborns Law

Reference: Senate Bill 1368 Chapter 824, Statutes of 2000

The Safe Arms for Newborns law applies to children under 72-hours old who are voluntarily surrendered to any employee on duty at a public or private hospital emergency room or additional location designated by the county Board of Supervisors. Medi-Cal eligibility will begin on the date physical custody is surrendered and ends on the last day of the month following the month in which the infant was voluntarily surrendered.

The purpose of this new law is to ensure that health facilities that accept surrendered newborns will be reimbursed for providing care for the surrendered newborn.