(a) In any emergency or disaster, as declared by the Governor, clinics funded under the seasonal agricultural and migratory workers program provided for by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 124550), the rural health services development program provided for by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 124600) or the expanded access to primary care program provided for by Article 2 (commencing with Section 124900) of Chapter 7 shall provide nonelective, primary health care services, utilizing a sliding-fee scale based on income, including a zero payment option, to all persons who are impacted by the emergency or disaster and who present themselves for treatment at the clinic.
(b) The department shall deny or recoup payment under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 124550), Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 124600), and Article 2 (commencing with Section 124900) of Chapter 7, assess civil penalties, revoke or suspend the license of the clinic pursuant to Section 1229, or impose other sanctions or other penalties authorized by law, when the clinic charges patients for care and fails to utilize a sliding-fee scale based on income, including a zero-payment option, to determine the fees to be charged to any patient pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) To the extent that the department enters into contracts or renews contracts with clinics identified in subdivision (b) on or after the effective date of this section, those contracts shall require clinics to utilize a sliding-fee scale based on income, including a zero-payment option, when determining fees to be assessed for patients.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 294, Sec. 27. Effective August 18, 1997.)