Each prepaid health plan shall provide directly or through subcontractors, not less than the basic scope of health care benefits as defined in Section 14256. The director shall establish the scope and duration of such services and may require other services listed in Section 14053 be provided on a risk or nonrisk basis. The director shall encourage the prepaid health plan to provide all of the services enumerated in Section 14053 on a prepaid basis. When mutually agreeable to the prepaid health plan, the department, and the hospital involved, and provided that the confidentiality of the selected hospital contracting rates negotiated pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14081) is maintained by all parties, contracts entered into by the department pursuant to this chapter may provide for alternative arrangements in any or all of a prepaid health plan’s Medi-Cal service area for the payment of inpatient hospital services using Medi-Cal hospital inpatient rates.

Subject to prior approval by the director, any additional services other than those listed in Section 14053 may be provided at reasonable cost to Medi-Cal enrollees, provided the enrollees are notified of services for which they will be charged and the amount of the charge prior to rendering such services.

(Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1348, Sec. 14.)