(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (e), the department shall implement a 7-percent reduction in hours of service to each recipient of services under this article, which shall be applied to the recipient’s hours as authorized pursuant to the most recent assessment. This reduction shall become effective 12 months after the implementation of the reduction set forth in Section 12301.01. The reduction required by this section shall not preclude any reassessment to which a recipient would otherwise be entitled. However, hours authorized pursuant to a reassessment shall be subject to the 7-percent reduction required by this section.
(2) A request for reassessment based only on the reduction required in paragraph (1) may be administratively denied by the county.
(3) A recipient of services under this article may direct the manner in which the reduction of hours is applied to the recipient’s previously authorized services.
(4) For those individuals who have a documented unmet need, excluding protective supervision because of the limitations on authorized hours under Section 12303.4, the reduction shall be taken first from the documented unmet need.
(b) The notice of action informing the recipient of the reduction pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be mailed at least 20 days prior to the reduction going into effect. The notice of action shall be understandable to the recipient and translated into all languages spoken by a substantial number of the public served by the In-Home Supportive Services program, in accordance with Section 7295.2 of the Government Code. The notice shall not contain any recipient financial or confidential identifying information other than the recipient’s name, address, and Case Management Information and Payroll System (CMIPS) client identification number, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:
(1) The aggregate number of authorized hours before the reduction pursuant to subdivision (a) and the aggregate number of authorized hours after the reduction.
(2) That the recipient may direct the manner in which the reduction of authorized hours is applied to the recipient’s previously authorized services.
(3) A county shall assess a recipient’s need for supportive services any time that the recipient notifies the county of a need to adjust the supportive services hours authorized, or when there are other indications or expectations of a change in circumstances affecting the recipient’s need for supportive services. Counties shall not require recipients to submit a medical certification form or a doctor’s note to show evidence of a change in the recipient’s circumstances.
(c) A recipient shall have all appeal rights otherwise provided for under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 10950) of Part 2.
(d) The reduction specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be ongoing and may be adjusted pursuant to Section 12301.03.
(e) (1) The reduction specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be suspended until July 1, 2019, if the managed care organization provider tax imposed pursuant to Article 6.7 (commencing with Section 14199.50) of Chapter 7 remains operative.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the managed care organization provider tax imposed pursuant to Article 6.7 (commencing with Section 14199.50) of Chapter 7 ceases to be operative for any reason, the reduction specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be reinstated effective no later than the first day of the first full month occurring 90 days after the date on which the managed care organization provider tax ceases to be operative.
(3) Notwithstanding the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement this subdivision through an all-county letter or similar instructions from the director until January 1, 2020.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 25, Sec. 23. (AB 1603) Effective June 27, 2016.)