(a) At the time of determining or redetermining the eligibility of a Medi-Cal program or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program applicant or beneficiary who resides in an area served by a managed health care plan or pilot program in which beneficiaries may enroll, each applicant or beneficiary shall be informed of the managed care and fee-for-service options available regarding methods of receiving Medi-Cal benefits. (b) The information described in subdivision (a) shall include all of the following elements: (1) Each beneficiary or eligible applicant shall be informed that he or she may choose to continue an established patient-provider relationship in the fee-for-service sector. (2) Each beneficiary or eligible applicant shall be provided with the name, address, telephone number, and specialty, if any, of each primary care provider, and each clinic participating in each prepaid managed health care plan, pilot project, or fee-for-service case management provider option. This information shall be provided under geographic area designations, in alphabetical order by the name of the primary care provider and clinic. The name, address, and telephone number of each specialist participating in each prepaid managed health care plan, pilot project, or fee-for-service case management provider option shall be made available by contacting either the health care options contractor or the prepaid managed health care plan, pilot project, or fee-for-service case management provider. (3) Each beneficiary or eligible applicant shall be informed that he or she may choose to continue an established patient-provider relationship in a managed care option, if his or her treating provider is a primary care provider or clinic contracting with any of the prepaid managed health care plans, pilot projects, or fee-for-service case management provider options available, has available capacity, and agrees to continue to treat that beneficiary or applicant. (4) In areas specified by the director, each beneficiary or eligible applicant shall be informed that if he or she fails to make a choice, or does not certify that he or she has an established relationship with a primary care provider or clinic, he or she shall be assigned to, and enrolled in, a prepaid managed health care plan, pilot project, or fee-for-service case management provider. (c) No later than 30 days following the date a Medi-Cal or AFDC beneficiary or applicant is determined eligible, the beneficiary or applicant shall indicate his or her choice in writing, as a condition of coverage for Medi-Cal benefits, of either of the following health care options: (1) To obtain benefits by receiving a Medi-Cal card, which may be used to obtain services from individual providers, that the beneficiary would locate, that choose to provide services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The department may require each beneficiary or eligible applicant, as a condition for electing this option, to sign a statement certifying that he or she has an established patient-provider relationship, or in the case of a dependent, the parent or guardian shall make that certification. This certification shall not require the acknowledgment or guarantee of acceptance, by any indicated Medi-Cal provider or health facility, of any beneficiary making a certification under this section. (2) (A) To obtain benefits by enrolling in a prepaid managed health care plan, pilot program, or fee-for-service case management provider that has agreed to make Medi-Cal services readily available to enrolled Medi-Cal beneficiaries. (B) At the time the beneficiary or eligible applicant selects a prepaid managed health care plan, pilot project, or fee-for-service case management provider, the department shall, when applicable, encourage the beneficiary or eligible applicant to also indicate, in writing, his or her choice of primary care provider or clinic contracting with the selected prepaid managed health care plan, pilot project, or f
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