Section 14134.5.

All of the following provisions apply to the provision of services pursuant to subdivision (u) of Section 14132:

(a) "Comprehensive perinatal provider" means any general practice physician, family practice physician, obstetrician-gynecologist, pediatrician, certified nurse midwife, a group, any of whose members is one of the above-named physicians, or any preferred provider organization or clinic enrolled in the Medi-Cal program and certified pursuant to the standards of this section.

(b) "Perinatal" means the period from the establishment of pregnancy to one month following delivery.

(c) "Comprehensive perinatal services" shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of the combination of services developed through the Department of Health Services Obstetrical Access Pilot Program.

(d) The comprehensive perinatal provider shall schedule visits with appropriate providers and shall track the patient to verify whether services have been received. As part of the reimbursement for coordinating these services, the comprehensive perinatal provider shall ensure the provision of the following services either through the provider's own service or through subcontracts or referrals to other providers:

(1) A psychosocial assessment and when appropriate referrals to counseling.

(2) Nutrition assessments and when appropriate referral to counseling on food supplement programs, vitamins and breast-feeding.

(3) Health, childbirth, and parenting education.

(e) Except where existing law prohibits the employment of physicians, a health care provider may employ or contract with all of the following medical and other practitioners for the purpose of providing the comprehensive services delineated in this section:

(1) Physicians, including a general practitioner, a family practice physician, a pediatrician, or an obstetrician-gynecologist.

(2) Certified nurse midwives.

(3) Nurses.

(4) Nurse practitioners.

(5) Physician assistants.

(6) Social workers.

(7) Health and childbirth educators.

(8) Registered dietitians.

The department shall adopt regulations which define the qualifications of any of these practitioners who are not currently included under the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. Providers shall, as feasible, utilize staffing patterns which reflect the linguistic and cultural features of the populations they serve.

(f) The California Medical Assistance Program and the Maternal and Child Health Branch of the State Department of Health Services in consultation with the California Conference of Local Health Officers shall establish standards for health care providers and for services rendered pursuant to this subdivision.

(g) The department shall assist local health departments to establish a community perinatal program whose responsibilities may include certifying and monitoring providers of comprehensive perinatal services. The department shall provide the local health departments with technical assistance for the purpose of implementing the community perinatal program. The department shall, to the extent feasible, and to the extent funding for administrative costs is available, utilize local health departments in the administration of the perinatal program. If these funds are not available, the department shall use alternative means to implement the community perinatal program.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department shall establish a method for reimbursement of comprehensive perinatal providers which shall include a fee for coordinating services and which shall be sufficient to cover reasonable costs for the provision of comprehensive perinatal services. The department may utilize fees for service, capitated fees, or global fees to reimburse providers. However, if capitated or global fees are established, the department shall set minimum standards for the provision of services including, but not limited to, the number of prenatal visits and the amount and type of psychosocial, nutritional, and educational services patients shall receive.

Notwithstanding the type of reimbursement system, the comprehensive perinatal provider shall not be financially at risk for the provision of inpatient services. The provision of inpatient services which are not related to perinatal care shall not be subject to the provisions of this section. Inpatient services related to services pursuant to this subdivision shall be reimbursed, in accordance with Section 14081, 14086, 14087, or 14087.2, whichever is applicable.

(i) The department shall develop systems for monitoring and oversight of the comprehensive perinatal services provided in this section. The monitoring shall include, but shall not be limited to, collection of information using the perinatal data form.

(j) Participation for services provided pursuant to this section shall be voluntary. The department shall adopt patient rights safeguards for recipients of the comprehensive perinatal services.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 188, Sec. 84. Effective August 24, 2007.)