(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the director shall have discretion to modify any timeline or timelines in this article or Article 5.228 (commencing with Section 14169.1) if the letter that indicates likely federal approval, as described in Section 14169.34, is not secured by December 15, 2013, and the director determines that it is impossible from an operational perspective to implement a timeline or timelines without the modification.
(b) The department shall notify the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature prior to implementing a modified timeline or timelines under subdivision (a).
(c) The department shall consult with representatives of the hospital community in developing a modified timeline or timelines pursuant to this section.
(d) The discretion to modify timelines under this section shall include, but not be limited to, discretion to accelerate payments to plans or hospitals.