(a) It is necessary that a special commission be established in San Mateo County and in any other county designated by the California Medical Assistance Commission in order to meet the problems of the delivery of publicly assisted medical care in the counties and to demonstrate ways of promoting quality care and cost efficiency.

(b) The Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County and of the designated counties may, by ordinance, establish commissions to do any or all of the following:

(1) Negotiate the exclusive contracts specified in Section 14087.5 and to arrange for the provision of health care services provided pursuant to this chapter.

(2) Enter into contracts for the provision of health care services to subscribers in the Healthy Families Program.

(3) Enter into agreements under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(c) In addition to the authority specified in subdivision (b), the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County may, by ordinance, authorize the commission established pursuant to this section to provide health care delivery systems for any or all of the following persons:

(1) Persons who are eligible to receive medical benefits under this chapter in the county, including, but not limited to, persons who are eligible through federal waiver or a pilot project.

(2) Persons who are eligible to receive medical benefits under both Title 18 and Title 19 of the federal Social Security Act.

(3) Persons who are eligible to receive medical benefits under Title 18 of the federal Social Security Act.

(4) Persons who are eligible to receive medical benefits under publicly supported programs if the commission and participating providers acting pursuant to subcontracts with the commission agree to hold harmless the beneficiaries of the publicly supported programs if the contract between the sponsoring government agency and the commission does not ensure sufficient funding to cover program costs.

(5) Other individuals or groups in the service area, including, but not limited to, public agencies, private businesses, and uninsured or indigent persons. The commission shall not use any payment or reserve from the Medi-Cal program for purposes of this paragraph.

(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the commission established pursuant to this section from providing services pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) in counties other than the commission’s county if the commission is approved by the Department of Managed Health Care to provide services in those counties. The commission shall not use any payment or reserve from the Medi-Cal program for purposes of this subdivision.

(e) If the board of supervisors elects to enact an ordinance pursuant to this section, all rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities vested in a county by an article shall be vested in the county commission. Any reference in this article to “county” shall mean a commission established pursuant to this section.

(f) The enabling ordinance shall specify the membership of the county commission, the qualifications for individual members, and any other matters as the board of supervisors deems necessary or convenient for the conduct of the county commission’s activities. A commission so established shall be considered a public entity for purposes of Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code. All commissioners shall be appointed by majority vote of the board of supervisors and shall serve at the pleasure thereof. The board of supervisors may appoint no more than two of its own members to serve on the commission.

(g) As an alternative to establishing a separate commission, the enabling ordinance may designate the board of supervisors itself as the commission authorized by this article.

(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede Section 14093.06 or 14094.3.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 906, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.)