(a) In implementing this division, the State Department of Health Care Services may contract, on a bid or nonbid basis, with any qualified individual, organization, or entity for services needed to implement the project, and may negotiate contracts, on a nonbid basis, with long-term care insurers, health care service plans, or both, for the provision of coverage for long-term care services that will meet the certification requirements set forth in Section 22005.1 and the other requirements of this division.

(b) In order to achieve maximum cost savings, the Legislature declares that an expedited process for issuing contracts pursuant to this division is necessary. Therefore, contracts entered into on a nonbid basis pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 487, Sec. 13. (SB 1384) Effective January 1, 2017.)