(a) The department may apply one or more of the following sanctions against any contractor for failure to comply with the requirements of this article, regulations adopted by the department, the contract between the contractor and the department, or for other good cause shown. Good cause includes, but is not necessarily limited to, three repeated and uncorrected findings of serious deficiencies that have the potential to endanger patient care, as defined by the department in accordance with this section, identified in the medical audits conducted by the department:

(1) Terminate the contract.

(2) Suspend enrollment and marketing activities.

(3) Require the contractor to suspend or terminate personnel of the contractor or to terminate participation by subcontractors specified by the department.

(4) Impose civil penalties not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation pursuant to regulations adopted by the director. Unless imposed in error, penalties shall not be returned to the plan.

(5) Take other appropriate action as determined necessary by the department.

(b) The department shall give the contractor and any other persons who may be directly interested not less than 30 days’ notice of its intention to impose any of the sanctions authorized by this section.

(c) The notice required by subdivision (b) shall be written, and shall specify each requirement that has not been met, the proposed effective date of the sanction or sanctions, and the amount and duration of each proposed sanction.

(d) (1) Within five working days after the receipt of the written notice required by subdivision (b), the contractor may submit notice of its intent to comply with the requirements specified in the written notice.

(2) If the contractor submits the notice of intent authorized by paragraph (1), the department shall allow the contractor to demonstrate its compliance with the requirements specified in the department’s written notice. Substantial compliance shall be achieved within 30 calendar days from the date of the submission of the notice of intent to comply by the contractor. Within 15 days following the completion of the 30-day compliance correction period, the department shall review the corrective actions taken by the contractor and, if appropriate, approve those actions.

(3) If a contractor subject to notice to apply sanctions under subdivision (b) does not demonstrate appropriate corrective compliance within the 30-day corrective action period or does not submit a notice of intent to comply with the requirements specified in the notice required by subdivision (b), the department shall notify the contractor, in writing, of the effective date and terms of the sanction or sanctions applied pursuant to this section.

(4) The department may make one or more of the following temporary suspension orders as an immediate sanction: temporarily suspend enrollment activities, temporarily suspend marketing activities, require the contractor temporarily to suspend specified personnel of the contractor, or require the contractor temporarily to suspend participation by a specified subcontractor. The temporary suspension orders may be effective beginning on the first day after the expiration of the 30-day compliance correction period, if the contractor submitted a notice of intent to comply, but has not demonstrated appropriate corrective action, or beginning on the first day after the notice required by subdivision (b) if the contractor did not submit a notice of intent to comply. All other sanctions shall be effective no earlier than 20 days after the notice specified in paragraph (3).

(5) If the department issues a temporary suspension order as an immediate sanction, it shall notify the contractor of the nature and effective date of the temporary suspension and at the same time shall serve the provider with an accusation. Upon receipt of a notice of defense filed by the contractor, the department shall, within 15 days, set the matter for hearing, which shall be held as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after receipt of the notice of hearing by the contractor. The hearing may be continued at the request of the contractor if a continuance is necessary to permit presentation of an adequate defense. The temporary suspension order shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and the department has made a final determination on the merits. However, the temporary suspension order shall be deemed vacated if the director fails to make a final determination on the merits within 60 days after the original hearing has been completed.

(6) A contractor may request a hearing in connection with any sanctions applied pursuant to this section, other than those contained in a temporary suspension order, within 15 working days after the notice of the effective date of the sanctions has been given pursuant to paragraph (3), by sending a letter so stating to the address specified in the notice. The department shall stay implementation of the sanction upon receipt of the request for a hearing. Implementation of the sanction shall remain stayed until the effective date of the final decision of the department.

(7) Except as otherwise provided herein, all hearings to review the imposition of sanctions, including temporary suspension orders, shall be held pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 100171 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) The department may collect civil penalties imposed pursuant to this section by withholding the amount of the penalty from capitation payments owed by the department to the contractor.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 220, Sec. 35. Effective August 4, 1997.)