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. (a) A health facility, as defined by subdivisions (c) to (g),
inclusive, of Section 1250, which has a significant beneficial
interest in an ancillary health service provider or which knows that
an ancillary health service provider has a significant beneficial
interest in the health facility shall disclose that interest in
writing to the patients of the health facility, or their
representatives, and advise the patients, or their representatives,
that they may choose to have another ancillary health service
provider provide any supplies or services ordered by a member of the
medical staff of the health facility.
(b) If supplies or services are provided on an outpatient basis by
an ancillary health service provider which is not on the same site
as, or which is not on a site which is adjacent to, a health
facility, as defined by subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1250, which
has a significant beneficial interest in the ancillary health
service provider, or if the ancillary health service provider has a
significant beneficial interest in the health facility, the ancillary
health service provider shall disclose that interest in writing to
the customers of the ancillary health service provider, or their
representatives, and advise the customers, or their representatives,
that they may choose to have another ancillary health service
provider provide any supplies or services ordered by a member of the
medical staff of the health facility.
(c) A health facility, as defined by Section 1250, shall not
charge, bill, or otherwise solicit payment from a patient on behalf
of, or refer a patient to, another health facility in which the
health facility has a significant beneficial interest unless the
health facility first discloses in writing to the patient, or his or
her representative, that the patient may choose to have another
health facility provide any supplies or services ordered by a member
of the medical staff of the health facility.
(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), "significant
beneficial interest" means any financial interest that is equal to or
greater than the lesser of the following:
(A) Five percent of the whole.
(B) Five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(2) "Significant beneficial interest" does not include any of the
following interests:
(A) A lease agreement between a health facility, ancillary health
service provider, another health facility, or a parent corporation of
the health facility, or any combination thereof.
(B) Any financial interest held by a health facility or ancillary
health service provider in the stock of a publicly held health
facility or ancillary health service provider, or any parent
corporation of a health facility or ancillary health service
provider, if that financial interest does not exceed 5 percent of any
class of equity securities of the health facility, ancillary health
service provider, or parent corporation.
(C) An ownership interest in a health facility or ancillary health
service provider if more than three-fourths of the patients of the
health facility or ancillary health service provider are members of a
prepaid group practice health care service plan, as defined by
Section 1345.
(e) (1) "Ancillary health service provider" includes, but is not
limited to, providers of pharmaceutical, laboratory, optometry,
prosthetic, or orthopedic supplies or services, suppliers of durable
medical equipment, home-health service providers, and providers of
mental health or substance abuse services.
(2) As used in subdivision (b), "adjacent" means real property
located within a 400-yard radius of the boundaries of the site on
which the health facility is located.
(f) Neither a health facility nor an ancillary health service
provider is required to make any disclosures required by this section
to any patients or customers, or their representatives, if the
patients or customers are enrolled in organizations or entities which
provide or arrange for the provision of health care services in
exchange for a prepaid capitation payment or premium.