§ 14087.32. — 14087.32. (Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 197.)

Commencing on the date the authority first receives Medi-Cal capitated payments for the provision of health care services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries and until a commission established pursuant to Section 14087.31 is in compliance with all the requirements regarding tangible net equity applicable to a health care service plan licensed under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, all of the following shall apply:
(a)
The commission may select and
design its automated management information system. The department, in cooperation with the commission, prior to making capitated payments, shall test the system to ensure that the system is capable of producing detailed, accurate, and timely financial information on the financial condition of the commission, and any other information that is generally required by the department in its contracts with other health care service plans.
(b)
In addition to the reports required by the Department of Managed Health Care under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, and the rules of the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care promulgated thereunder, a commission established pursuant to Section 14087.31 shall provide, on a monthly basis, to the department, the Department of Managed Health Care, and the members of the commission, a copy of the automated report described in subdivision (a) and a
projection of assets and liabilities, including those that have been incurred but not reported, with an explanation of material increases or decreases in current or projected assets or liabilities. The explanation of increases and decreases in assets or liabilities shall be provided, upon request, to a hospital, independent physicians’ practice association or community clinic, which has contracted with the authority to provide health care services.
(c)
In addition to the reporting and notification obligations the commission has under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, the chief executive officer or director of the commission shall immediately notify the department, the Department of Managed Health Care, and the members of the commission, in writing, of any fact or facts that, in the chief executive officer’s or director’s reasonable and prudent judgment, is likely to result in the commission
being unable to meet its financial obligations to health care providers or to other parties. The written notice shall describe the fact or facts, the anticipated fiscal consequences, and the actions which will be taken to address the anticipated consequences.
(d)
The Department of Managed Health Care shall not, in any way, waive or vary, nor shall the department request the Department of Managed Health Care to waive or vary, the tangible net equity requirements for a commission under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, after three years from the date of commencement of capitated payments to the commission. Until the commission is in compliance with all of the tangible net equity requirements under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, and the rules of the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care adopted thereunder, the commission shall
develop a stop-loss program appropriate to the risks of the commission, which program shall be satisfactory to both the department and the Department of Managed Health Care.
(e)
(1)
If the commission votes to file a petition of bankruptcy, or the county board of supervisors notifies the department of its intent to terminate the commission, the department shall immediately transfer the authority’s Medi-Cal beneficiaries as follows:
(A)
To other managed care contractors, when available, provided those contractors are able to demonstrate that they can absorb the increased enrollment without detriment to the provision of health care services to their existing enrollees.
(B)
To the extent that other managed care contractors are unavailable or the department determines that it is otherwise in the
best interest of any particular beneficiary, to a fee-for-service reimbursement system pending the availability of managed care contractors provided those contractors are able to demonstrate that they can absorb the increased enrollment without detriment to the provision of health care services to their existing enrollees, or the department determines that providing care to any particular beneficiary pursuant to a fee-for-service reimbursement system is no longer necessary to protect the continuity of care or other interests of the beneficiary.
(2)
Beneficiary eligibility for Medi-Cal shall not be affected by actions taken pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)
Beneficiaries who have been or who are scheduled to be transferred to a fee-for-service reimbursement system or managed care contractor may make a choice to be enrolled in another managed care system, if one is available, in full
compliance with the federal freedom-of-choice requirements.
(f)
(1)
A commission established pursuant to Section 14087.31 shall submit to a review of financial records when the department determines, based on data reported by the commission or otherwise, that the commission will not be able to meet its financial obligations to health care providers contracting with the commission. Where the review of financial records determines that the commission will not be able to meet its financial obligations to contracting health care providers for the provision of health care services, the Director of Health Services shall immediately terminate the contract between the commission and the state, and immediately transfer the commission’s Medi-Cal beneficiaries in accordance with subdivision (e) in order to ensure uninterrupted provision of health care services to the beneficiaries and to minimize financial disruption to
providers.
(2)
The action of the Director of Health Services pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be the final administrative determination. Beneficiary eligibility for Medi-Cal shall not be affected by this action.
(3)
Beneficiaries who have been or who are scheduled to be transferred under subdivision (e) may make a choice to be enrolled in another managed care plan, if one is available, in full compliance with federal freedom-of-choice requirements.
(g)
It is the intent of the Legislature that the department shall implement Medi-Cal capitated enrollments in a manner that ensures that appropriate levels of health care services will be provided to Medi-Cal beneficiaries and that appropriate levels of administrative services will be furnished to health care providers. The contract between the department and the commission
shall authorize and permit the department to administer the number of covered Medi-Cal enrollments in such a manner that the commission’s provider network and administrative structure are able to provide appropriate and timely services to beneficiaries and to participating providers.
(h)
In the event a commission is terminated, files for bankruptcy, or otherwise no longer functions for the purpose for which it was established, the county shall, with respect to compensation for provision of health care services to beneficiaries, occupy no greater or lesser status than any other health care provider in the disbursement of assets of the commission.
(i)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair or diminish the authority of the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, nor
shall anything in the section be construed to reduce or otherwise limit the obligation of a commission licensed as a health care service plan to comply with the requirements of Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code and the rules of the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care adopted thereunder.
(j)
Except as expressly provided by other provisions of this section, all exemptions and exclusions from disclosure as public records pursuant to the Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), including, but not limited to, those pertaining to trade secrets and information withheld in the public interest, shall be fully applicable for all state agencies and local agencies with respect to all writings that the commission is required to prepare, produce, or submit pursuant to this section.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 197. Effective January 1, 2002.