(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this article, the director may modify any timeline or timelines related to the assessment of the quality assurance fee or Medi-Cal payments under this article, including capitation payments, if the director, upon consultation with the hospital community, determines that it is impossible from an operational perspective to implement a timeline or timelines without the modification.
(b) The department shall notify the Joint Budget Legislative Committee and the fiscal and appropriate policy committees of the Legislature five working days 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.