(a) The director shall specify performance and quality assurance standards to be included in any experimental project for in-home supportive services undertaken pursuant to Section 18204 or extended pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 18205.

(b) In the case of a project subject to subdivision (a) of Section 18205 that is conducted pursuant to a contract between a private provider and a county, the standards shall assure delivery of all required services at the time the services are needed, including weekends and nights; establish proper screening, training, and supervision of persons providing direct services; and institute frequent periodic quality control audits and utilization review of all services. These standards shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(c) Quality control audits and utilization review shall be performed by entities that are independent of the county and the private contractor. The reports of the quality control audits and utilization review, excluding client confidential information, shall be made available to the public. The cost of those quality control audits and utilization review shall be considered as part of the county administrative costs for the managed contract.

(d) (1) One year after the effective date of any project for in-home supportive services established pursuant to Section 18204 or after the date of extension pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 18205, the Auditor General shall commission a study to review the performance of that project. Any independent reviewer designated in an existing contract may be commissioned to perform the study.

(2)  The study shall give special attention to both of the following:

(A) The health and welfare of the recipients under the project, including the degree to which all required services have been delivered, out-of-home placement rates, prompt response to recipient complaints, and any other issue the director deems relevant.

(B) The cost implications of the project, estimating the potential for ongoing savings, if any.

(3) The study may include a fiscal audit of the contract.

(e) Projects subject to Section 18204 relating to in-home supportive services and subject to this section shall, to the greatest extent possible, permit recipients to select their own qualified provider of care and set their own service schedule.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 745, Sec. 263. Effective October 12, 2001.)