Medi-Cal and other California health care providers will soon be required to change their document retention policies and practices for services rendered under programs administered by California’s Department of Health Care Services (“DHCS Programs”). As of January 1, 2018, California law will require these providers to maintain certain healthcare information for a minimum of 10 years.

On October 5, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown approved AB 1688 (Chapter 511, Statutes of 2017), which in part amends California Welfare and Institutions Code § 14124.1 effective January 1, 2018. Section 14124.1 currently requires that providers under DHCS Programs maintain specified information for three years, including the names of the individuals to whom healthcare services were rendered and the date(s) of service. The amendment requires that these providers retain the specified information for a minimum of 10 years. The 10-year period commences on the final date of the contract period between the plan and the provider, if any, the date of any audit completion, or the date the service was rendered, whichever is later.