(a) The director shall apply utilization controls to continuous skilled nursing care services provided pursuant to the pilot program established under Section 14495.10, including, but not limited to, prior authorization and monitoring by the department. Prior authorization shall ensure that continuous skilled nursing care services are medically necessary, and that the provision of continuous skilled nursing care will avoid a transfer to, or placement at, a higher level of service. Monitoring shall be conducted by the department including, but not limited to, evaluation of quality of life, health, safety, and well-being of the beneficiary, and quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of the continuous skilled nursing care services. The department shall consult with the State Department of Developmental Services and regional centers to design monitoring efforts.
(b) Payment of the reimbursement rates established pursuant to Section 14110.55 shall be subject to all billing criteria of the Medi-Cal program and the utilization controls set forth in this section.
(c) This section shall become operative only if the federal waiver identified under Section 14495.10 is approved by the federal Health Care Financing Administration. The director shall maintain a record of the satisfaction of this condition.