(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section and Section 14133.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, California Children’s Services Program services provided pursuant to this article require prior authorization by the department or its designee. Prior authorization is contingent on determination by the department or its designee of all of the following:

(1) The child receiving the services is confirmed to be medically eligible for the CCS program.

(2) The provider of the services is approved in accordance with the standards of the CCS program.

(3) The services authorized are medically necessary to treat the child’s CCS-eligible medical condition.

(b) The department or its designee may approve a request for a treatment authorization that is otherwise in conformance with subdivision (a) for services for a child participating in the Medi-Cal program pursuant to Section 14005.26 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or the Medi-Cal Access Program pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15810) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, received by the department or its designee after the requested treatment has been provided to the child.

(c) If a provider of services who meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) incurs costs for services described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) to treat a child described in subdivision (b) who is subsequently determined to be medically eligible for the CCS program, as determined by the department or its designee, the department may reimburse the provider for those costs. Reimbursement under this section shall conform to the requirements of Section 14105.18 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d) (1) By July 1, 2016, or a subsequent date determined by the department, requests for authorization of services, excluding requests for authorization of services submitted by dental providers enrolled in the Medi-Cal Dental program, shall be submitted in an electronic format determined by the department and shall be submitted via the department’s Internet Web site or other electronic means designated by the department. The department may implement this requirement in phases.

(2) The department shall designate an alternate format for submitting requests for authorization of services when the department’s Internet Web site or other electronic means designated in paragraph (1) are unavailable due to a system disruption.

(3) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may, without taking regulatory action, implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision and any applicable waivers and state plan amendments by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions. Thereafter, the department shall adopt regulations by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The department shall consult with interested parties and appropriate stakeholders in implementing this subdivision.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 733, Sec. 5. (SB 1477) Effective January 1, 2017.)