Section 14459.5.

(a) As delegated by the federal government, the department has responsibility for monitoring the quality of all medicaid services provided in the state. A key component of this monitoring function is the performance of annual, independent, external reviews of the quality of services furnished under each state contract with a health maintenance organization, as specified by the federal Health Care Financing Administration.

(b) The Legislature finds and declares that the final report obtained from the external reviews will provide valid and reliable information regarding health care outcomes and the overall quality of care delivered by the managed care plans.

(c) The department shall make only the final report of each external review available, within 30 calendar days of completion, to the fiscal and health policy committees of the Legislature, and shall make only the final report available for public viewing upon request by any individual or organization.

(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 294, Sec. 77. Effective August 18, 1997.)