(a) In addition to the reviews required or authorized by Section 14456, the department shall conduct periodic onsite visits or additional visits after a determination by the director of good cause by departmental representatives to include observation of the general operation of the prepaid health plan, the condition of the facilities for delivering health care, the availability of emergency services, the degree of satisfaction of the enrollees, the operation of the plan’s grievance system, and the administrative and financial aspects of the operation of the prepaid health plan.
(b) Except when reviewing a plan’s grievance system or marketing activities, this evaluation shall use standards and criteria established pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975. Except in those instances where major, unanticipated administrative obstacles prevent, or after a determination by the director of good cause, the visits shall be scheduled and carried out jointly with reviews carried out pursuant to the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, if reviews under that act will be carried out within time periods that satisfy the requirements of federal law.
(c) The State Department of Health Services may contract with the Department of Managed Health Care to perform the periodic visits required by this section.