(a) Up to four regional dialysis centers with up to two in the northern and up to two in the southern part of the state, shall be established for the treatment of persons suffering from chronic uremia. Each center shall be located in a metropolitan area and shall have an affiliation with a large hospital or medical school, but shall not be necessarily a physical part of the institution. These institutions, however, shall be able to provide a full range of medical, surgical and rehabilitation services. The department shall only act as a granting agency for state funds that are appropriated for the establishment and the continuation of the four centers. The department, upon the advice of the review committee that is provided for by Section 125515, may contract with any hospital or medical care institution for the administration and operation of one of the regional dialysis centers. It is not the intent of this section that any new hospital or medical school be established.
(b) Any moneys appropriated by Chapter 1416 of the Statutes of 1972 may be used either in existing dialysis and kidney transplantation programs for children or to establish new programs for such purposes. Any new or existing dialysis center funded pursuant to this subdivision shall provide for children the same center dialysis, home dialysis, and outpatient clinic services as are provided under Section 125530. Any new center funded pursuant to this subdivision shall be designated as a pediatric renal failure center. Funds granted for aid to children under this subdivision shall be based upon need as determined by the Renal Dialysis Review Committee established pursuant to Section 125515 and an evaluation by the department of a county’s ability to fund their one-fourth share of a child’s care under the Crippled Children’s Services Program. The funds shall only cover costs not recoverable from direct or third party payments. A pediatric renal failure center may use funds provided under this subdivision for payment of costs for kidney transplantation services at any hospital that is authorized to perform these services by the department. For purposes of this subdivision, a child is any person 18 years of age or under.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1996.)