Chapter 1. General Provisions of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 106. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 1.

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings and declarations:
  (1) There is a maldistribution of health services in California resulting in underserved rural and urban areas and underserved population groups.
  (2) Most rural areas of the state do not have adequate health services because there are insufficient personnel and facilities to provide the services. The lack of adequate services has a negative impact on the health and safety of the public.
  (3) In many urban areas of the state there are inadequate health services for low-income populations. Financial barriers create access problems. These barriers to health services have a negative impact on the health and safety of these groups and the public.
  (4) Population groups, such as American Indians and seasonal agricultural and migratory workers, lack access to adequate and appropriate health services. The lack of adequate services has a negative impact on the health and safety of these groups and the public.
  (5) State assistance will be needed to assure financial stability of primary care resources for these specified population groups.
  (b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that the state develop an overall strategy to ensure the maintenance of adequate primary health care resources for special population groups.

(a) The department shall develop a statewide plan for health services for special population groups identified pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 124425 by January 1, 1985, and shall evaluate and update the plan every two years. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of resources, an assessment of unmet needs, an evaluation of prior years program goals and objectives, and a two-year action plan for at least the following program areas:
  (1) Health of seasonal agricultural and migratory workers and their families.
  (2) American Indian health services.
  (3) Rural health services.
  (4) California health services corps.
  (5) Grants-in-aid to clinics.
  (b) The plan shall describe the types, locations, and effectiveness of the programs specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, and contain an assessment of resources needed to maintain the plan consistent with the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27).
  (c) The plan may be a consolidation of individual program reports due to the Legislature during the year the plan is updated. The plan may also be integrated with other plans the department is required to develop concerning maternal and child health programs and services for special population groups.
  (d) The statewide plan shall be initially developed in consultation with the Primary Care Clinics Advisory Committee and the California Conference of Local Health Officers and biannually updated as provided in this section in consultation with individuals and groups representing special populations and areas, with local governments, and with the office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may, if requested by the nonprofit or public agency and to the extent funds are available, provide for advance payments for services to be performed under any agreement entered into pursuant to the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27) and that is otherwise in compliance with the requirements contained in Section 100350. Individual advance payments made to any nonprofit or public agency that requests those payments shall be made in a timely fashion and shall not exceed 25 percent of the total amount of the grant award.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may, in addition to the advance payment under Section 124410, provide for prospective payments for services to be performed under any agreement entered into pursuant to the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27). These prospective payments may be provided each month to a contracting agency on one of the following bases:
  (a) One-twelfth of the total funding award each month.
  (b) One-twelfth of 75 percent of the funding award, if a 25 percent advance payment is also provided. Prospective payments may be made to those nonprofit or public agencies that request prospective payments and may be adjusted if necessary during the project period after the submission and review of required program reports.

Each agreement for a project shall require the contracting agency to seek third-party reimbursements, including Medi-Cal and private insurance, for any person served under the agreement and shall require that the reimbursements be used for purposes consistent with the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27). Each agreement may require the contracting agency to provide reports to the department on reimbursements.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that funds authorized by the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27) be provided to organizations and agencies that are located in underserved areas or that are serving population groups identified pursuant to subdivision (b).
  (b) Every two years the director shall develop a list of underserved rural and urban areas and underserved population groups. The director shall take into consideration the list of urban and rural areas designated as medically underserved by the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission and by the office and federal medically underserved areas and population groups designated by federal agencies.
  (c) The director shall develop the list of underserved rural and urban areas and underserved population groups, set forth in subdivision (b), after consulting and receiving written recommendations from the Primary Care Clinics Advisory Committee and after consulting with appropriate groups and individuals, including individuals representing underserved populations and local government.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that programs in the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27) be funded annually through the budgetary process.
  (b) In administering funds pursuant to the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27), the department shall use the funds only for the purpose of funding grants specifically authorized by that act.
  (c) No local assistance funds may be used for state administration purposes under the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27).

An applicant for funds pursuant to the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27) shall transmit a copy of an application to any person who makes a written request therefor at the same time that the application is transmitted to the state.

The department may enter into agreements with any clinic that is licensed under subdivision (a) of Section 1204 or exempt from licensure under subdivision (c) of Section 1206, and which requests the agreements, for up to three consecutive years. The contracts shall be limited to the provision of health services to persons authorized to receive health services under the programs specified in the Primary Care Services Act (Section 27). The department shall retain the right to terminate contracts under the general provisions of the contract language prior to the three years for failure to comply with the performance terms and conditions set forth in the contracts. The multiple-year contracts shall be modified to reflect any cost-of-living adjustments that are provided to the programs specified in this section, provided the cost-of-living adjustments are granted pursuant to the Budget Act. The contracts may also be amended to reflect changes in the base budget amount, scope of work, and other contract language changes as necessary. Nothing shall prohibit the department from establishing a three-year budget and annually amending the contract to change the budget amount, scope of work, and other contract language changes as necessary. Nothing shall prohibit the contract from being modified based on the mutual consent of the contractor and the department. Advance payments in the original contract and in each one-year extension are permitted, but shall not exceed 25 percent of the funds provided for each fiscal year. On or before January 1, 1990, the department at any time shall report to the Legislative Analyst as to the personnel-year and General Fund savings that have been associated with this authority.