(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the department shall automatically suspend, as a provider in the Medi-Cal program, any individual who, or any entity that, has a license, certificate, or other approval to provide health care, which is revoked or suspended by a federal, California, or another state’s licensing, certification, or approval authority, has otherwise lost that license, certificate, or approval, or has surrendered that license, certificate, or approval while a disciplinary hearing on that license, certificate, or approval was pending. The automatic suspension shall be effective on the date that the license, certificate, or approval was revoked, lost, or surrendered.

(b) The department may elect to not suspend an individual or entity as a provider in the Medi-Cal program pursuant to subdivision (a) if the revocation, suspension, or loss of the individual or entity’s license, certification, or approval authority in another state or the pending disciplinary hearing during which the individual or entity surrendered the license, certification, or approval authority in another state is based solely on conduct that is not deemed to be unprofessional conduct under California law. The department shall seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to implement this subdivision. This subdivision shall be implemented only to the extent that the department obtains any necessary federal approvals and federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program is available and not otherwise jeopardized.

Terms Used In California Welfare and Institutions Code 14043.6

(c) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific subdivision (b), in whole or in part, by means of plan or county letters, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or similar written instructions.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 261, Sec. 4. (SB 487) Effective January 1, 2024.)