(a) Reimbursement shall not be denied to any hospital, licensed primary care clinic, or long-term health care facility as defined in Section 1326 of the Health and Safety Code for care rendered to an eligible Medi-Cal beneficiary for the sole reason that a proof of eligibility label does not accompany the bill, so long as the claim includes other appropriate documentation of eligibility.

(b) The director shall require county welfare departments to issue, upon the request of a hospital, licensed primary care clinic, or long-term health care facility as defined in Section 1326 of the Health and Safety Code providing care to an eligible Medi-Cal beneficiary, replacement Medi-Cal proof of eligibility labels or other appropriate documentation of eligibility to the requester, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The hospital, licensed primary care clinic, or long-term health care facility as defined in Section 1326 of the Health and Safety Code attempted to obtain a label from the beneficiary at the time the service was provided.

(2) The hospital, licensed primary care clinic, or long-term health care facility as defined in Section 1326 of the Health and Safety Code made a subsequent attempt to obtain a label or other appropriate documentation from the beneficiary.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the director shall require that the replacement proof of eligibility label or other appropriate documentation of eligibility provided pursuant to subdivision (b) accompany the bill of the hospital, the licensed primary care clinic, or the long-term health care facility as defined in Section 1326 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until both the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly have received certification by registered mail from the Director of Health Services, that the automated eligibility verification system required by Section 14042 is operative for all counties and has been demonstrated to be accurate for each county at the 97-percent level as required by Section 14042 and as of that date is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1161, Sec. 3. Repealed as of date prescribed by its own provisions.)