(a) The amount of any payments made under this article to private hospitals, including the amount of payments made under Sections 14169.54 and 14169.55 and additional payments to private hospitals by managed health care plans pursuant to Section 14169.57, shall not be included in the calculation of the low-income percent or the OBRA 1993 payment limitation, as defined in paragraph (24) of subdivision (a) of Section 14105.98, for purposes of determining payments to private hospitals.
(b) The supplemental payments and other payments under this article shall be regarded as quality assurance payments, the implementation or suspension of which does not affect a determination of the adequacy of any rates under federal law.