Public social services: contracting.

Under existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the State Department of Developmental Services contracts with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities. The services and supports to be provided to a regional center consumer are contained in an individual program plan (IPP) , developed in accordance with prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes the regional center to, among other things, solicit an individual or agency, by requests for proposals (RFPs) or other means, to provide needed services or supports that are not available to achieve the stated objectives of a consumer's IPP. This bill would require an RFP that is prepared by a regional center for consumer services and supports to include a section on issues of equity and diversity, as specified. The bill would require an RFP that applies only to specifically identified consumers to only request information on how the applicant plans to provide culturally and linguistically competent services and supports to those specific consumers. The bill would make findings and declarations in that regard. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into various types of contracts for the provision of services to beneficiaries, including contracts with prepaid health plans, as defined. Existing law requires all subcontracts entered into by prepaid health plans to, among other things, contain the amount of compensation or other consideration that the subcontractor will receive under the terms of the subcontract, except as provided. Existing law prohibits a prepaid health plan from entering into a subcontract in which consideration is determined by a percentage of the primary contractor's payment from the department. This bill would eliminate that prohibition and instead authorize a prepaid health plan, unless the department objects, to enter into a subcontract in which consideration is determined by a percentage of the primary contractor's payment from the department.