(a) (1) In counties selected by the director with the concurrence of the county, a special county health authority may be established in order to meet the problems of delivery of publicly assisted medical care in each county, and to demonstrate ways of promoting quality care and cost efficiency. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude the department from expanding Medi-Cal managed care in ways other than those provided for in this section, including, but not limited to, the establishment of a public benefit corporation as set forth in Section 5110 of the Corporations Code. (2) For purposes of this section, âhealth authorityâ means an entity separate from the county that meets the requirements of state and federal law and the quality, cost, and access criteria established by the department. (b) The board of supervisors of a county described in subdivision (a) may, by ordinance, establish a health authority to negotiate and enter into contracts authorized by Section 14087.3, and to arrange for the provision of health care services provided pursuant to this chapter. If the board of supervisors elects to enact this ordinance, all rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities vested in a county contracting with the department under this article shall be vested in the health authority. The health authority may also enter into contracts for the provision of health care services to individuals including, but not limited to, those covered under Subchapter XVIII (commencing with Section 1395) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, those entitled to coverage under other publicly supported programs, those employed by public agencies or private businesses, and uninsured or indigent individuals. (c) The enabling ordinance shall specify the membership of the governing board of the health authority, the qualifications for individual members, the manner of appointment, selection, or removal of board members, and how long they shall serve, and any other matters the board of supervisors deems necessary or convenient for the conduct of the health authorityâs activities. Members of the governing board shall be appointed by the board of supervisors to represent the interests of the county, the general public, beneficiaries, physicians, hospitals, clinics, and other nonphysician health care providers. The health authority so established shall be considered an entity separate from the county and shall file a statement required by Section 53051 of the Government Code. The health authority shall have the power to acquire, possess, and dispose of real or personal property, as necessary for the performance of its functions, to employ personnel and contract for services required to meet its obligations, to sue or be sued, and to enter into agreements under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code. Any obligations of a health authority, statutory, contractual, or otherwise, shall be obligations solely of the health authority and shall not be the obligations of the county or of the state. (d) Upon creation, the health authority may borrow from the county, and the county may lend the health authority funds or issue revenue anticipation notes to obtain those funds necessary to commence operations. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, both the county and the health authority shall be eligible to receive funding under subdivision (p) of Section 14163, and the health authority shall be considered to have satisfied the requirements of that subdivision. (f) The health authority shall be deemed to be a public agency that is a unit of local government for purposes of all grant programs and other funding and loan guarantee programs. (g) It is the intent of the Legislature that if a health authority is formed pursuant to this section, the county shall, with respect to its medical facilities and programs, occupy no greater or lesser status than any other health care provid
‹ Prev All California sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.