14087.36. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 442.)

(a) The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this section:

(1) “County” means the City and County of San Francisco.

(2) “Board” means the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco.

(3) “Department” means the State Department of Health Care Services.

(4) “Governing body” means the governing body of the health authority.

(5) “Health authority” means the separate public agency established by the board of supervisors to operate a health care system in the county and to engage in the other activities authorized by this section.

(b) The Legislature finds and declares that it is necessary that a health authority be established in the county to arrange for the provision of health care services in order to meet the problems of the delivery of publicly assisted medical care in the county, to enter into a contract with the department under Article 2.97 (commencing with Section 14093), or to contract with a health care service plan on terms and conditions acceptable to the department, and to demonstrate ways of promoting quality care and cost efficiency.

(c) The county may, by resolution or ordinance, establish a health authority to act as and be the local initiative component of the Medi-Cal state plan pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. If the board elects to establish a health authority, all rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities vested in a county under Article 2.8 (commencing with Section 14087.5) and Article 2.97 (commencing with Section 14093) shall be vested in the health authority. The health authority shall have all power necessary and appropriate to operate programs involving health care services, including, but not limited to, the power to acquire, possess, and dispose of real or personal property, to employ personnel and contract for services required to meet its obligations, to sue or be sued, to take all actions and engage in all public and private business activities, subject to any applicable licensure, as permitted a health care service plan pursuant to Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, and to enter into agreements under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

(d) (1) (A) The health authority shall be considered a public entity for purposes of Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code, separate and distinct from the county, and shall file the statement required by Section 53051 of the Government Code. The health authority shall have primary responsibility to provide the defense and indemnification required under Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code for employees of the health authority who are employees of the county. The health authority shall provide insurance under terms and conditions required by the county in order to satisfy its obligations under this section.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “employee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 810.2 of the Government Code.

(2) The health authority shall not be considered to be an agency, division, department, or instrumentality of the county and shall not be subject to the personnel, procurement, or other operational rules of the county.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any obligations of the health authority, statutory, contractual, or otherwise, shall be the obligations solely of the health authority and shall not be the obligations of the county, unless expressly provided for in a contract between the authority and the county, nor of the state.

(4) Except as agreed to by contract with the county, no liability of the health authority shall become an obligation of the county upon either termination of the health authority or the liquidation or disposition of the health authority’s remaining assets.

(e) (1) To the full extent permitted by federal law, the department and the health authority may enter into contracts to provide or arrange for health care services for any or all persons who are eligible to receive benefits under the Medi-Cal program. The contracts may be on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, and shall include payment provisions on any basis negotiated between the department and the health authority. The health authority may also enter into contracts for the provision of health care services to individuals including, but not limited to, those covered under Subchapter XVIII (commencing with Section 1395) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, individuals employed by public agencies and private businesses, and uninsured or indigent individuals.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), or subdivision (f), the health authority may not operate health plans or programs for individuals covered under Subchapter XVIII (commencing with Section 1395) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, or for private businesses, until the health authority is in full compliance with all of the requirements of the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 under Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, including tangible net equity requirements applicable to a licensed health care service plan. This limitation shall not preclude the health authority from enrolling persons pursuant to the county’s obligations under Section 17000, or from enrolling county employees.

(f) The board of supervisors may transfer responsibility for administration of county-provided health care services to the health authority for the purpose of service of populations including uninsured and indigent persons, subject to the provisions of any ordinances or resolutions passed by the county board of supervisors. The transfer of administrative responsibility for those health care services shall not relieve the county of its responsibility for indigent care pursuant to Section 17000. The health authority may also enter into contracts for the provision of health care services to individuals including, but not limited to, those covered under Subchapter XVIII (commencing with Section 1395) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, and individuals employed by public agencies and private businesses.

(g) Upon creation, the health authority may borrow from the county and the county may lend the authority funds, or issue revenue anticipation notes to obtain those funds necessary to commence operations or perform the activities of the health authority. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, both the county and the health authority shall be eligible to receive funding under subdivision (p) of Section 14163.

(h) The county may terminate the health authority, but only by an ordinance approved by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the full board.

(i) Prior to the termination of the health authority, the county shall notify the department of its intent to terminate the health authority. The department shall conduct an audit of the health authority’s records within 30 days of notification to determine the liabilities and assets of the health authority. The department shall report its findings to the county and to the Department of Managed Health Care within 10 days of completion of the audit. The county shall prepare a plan to liquidate or otherwise dispose of the assets of the health authority and to pay the liabilities of the health authority to the extent of the health authority’s assets, and present the plan to the department and the Department of Managed Health Care within 30 days upon receipt of these findings.

(j) Any assets of the health authority derived from the contract entered into between the state and the authority pursuant to Article 2.97 (commencing with Section 14093), after payment of the liabilities of the health authority, shall be disposed of pursuant to the contract.

(k) (1) The governing body shall consist of 18 voting members, 14 of whom shall be appointed by resolution or ordinance of the board as follows:

(A) One member shall be a member of the board or any other person designated by the board.

(B) One member shall be a person who is employed in the senior management of a hospital not operated by the county or the University of California and who is nominated by the San Francisco Section of the West Bay Hospital Conference or any successor organization, or, if there is no successor organization, a person who shall be nominated by the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.

(C) Two members, one of whom shall be a person employed in the senior management of San Francisco General Hospital and one of whom shall be a person employed in the senior management of St. Luke’s Hospital (San Francisco). If San Francisco General Hospital or St. Luke’s Hospital, at the end of the term of the person appointed from its senior management, is not designated as a disproportionate share hospital, and if the governing body, after providing an opportunity for comment by the West Bay Hospital Conference, or any successor organization, determines that the hospital no longer serves an equivalent patient population, the governing body may, by a two-thirds vote of the full governing body, select an alternative hospital to nominate a person employed in its senior management to serve on the governing body. Alternatively, the governing body may approve a reduction in the number of positions on the governing body as set forth in subdivision (p).

(D) Two members shall be employees in the senior management of either private nonprofit community clinics or a community clinic consortium, nominated by the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, or any successor organization.

(E) Two members shall be physicians, nominated by the San Francisco Medical Society, or any successor organization.

(F) One member shall be nominated by the San Francisco Labor Council, or any successor organization.

(G) Two members shall be persons nominated by the member advisory committee of the health authority. Nominees of the member advisory committee shall be enrolled in any of the health insurance or health care coverage programs operated by the health authority or be the parent or legal guardian of an enrollee in any of the health insurance or health care coverage programs operated by the health authority.

(H) Two members shall be persons knowledgeable in matters relating to either traditional safety net providers, health care organizations, the Medi-Cal program, or the activities of the health authority, nominated by the program committee of the health authority.

(I) One member shall be a person nominated by the San Francisco Pharmacy Leadership Group, or any successor organization.

(2) One member, selected to fulfill the appointments specified in subparagraph (A), (G), or (H) shall, in addition to representing the member’s specified organization or employer, represent the discipline of nursing, and shall possess or be qualified to possess a registered nursing license.

(3) The initial members appointed by the board under the subdivision shall be, to the extent those individuals meet the qualifications set forth in this subdivision and are willing to serve, those persons who are members of the steering committee created by the county to develop the local initiative component of the Medi-Cal state plan in San Francisco. Following the initial staggering of terms, each of those members shall be appointed to a term of three years, except the member appointed pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. At the first meeting of the governing body, the members appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall draw lots to determine seven members whose initial terms shall be for two years. Each member shall remain in office at the conclusion of that member’s term until a successor member has been nominated and appointed.

( l ) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (k), one member of the governing body shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of San Francisco to serve at the pleasure of the mayor, one member shall be the county’s director of public health or designee, who shall serve at the pleasure of that director, one member shall be the Chancellor of the University of California at San Francisco or the chancellor’s designee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the chancellor, and one member shall be the county director of mental health or the director’s designee, who shall serve at the pleasure of that director.

(m) There shall be one nonvoting member of the governing body who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the health commission of the county.

(o) (1) The composition of the governing body and nomination process for appointment of its members shall be subject to alteration upon a two-thirds vote of the full membership of the governing body. This action shall be concurred in by a resolution or ordinance of the county.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no alteration described in that paragraph shall cause the removal of a member prior to the expiration of that member’s term.

(p) A majority of the members of the governing body shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and all official acts of the governing body shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. However, no official shall be approved with less than the affirmative vote of six members of the governing body, unless the number of members prohibited from voting because of conflicts of interest precludes adequate participation in the vote. The governing body may, by a two-thirds vote, adopt, amend, or repeal rules and procedures for the governing body. Those rules and procedures may require that certain decisions be made by a vote that is greater than a majority vote.

(q) For purposes of Section 87103 of the Government Code, members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (B) to (E), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (k) represent, and are appointed to represent, respectively, the hospitals, private nonprofit community clinics, and physicians that contract with the health authority, or the health care service plan with which the health authority contracts, to provide health care services to the enrollees of the health authority or the health care service plan. Members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (F) and (G) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (k) represent, and are appointed to represent, respectively, the health care workers and enrollees served by the health authority or its contracted health care service plan, and traditional safety net and ancillary providers and other organizations concerned with the activities of the health authority.

(r) A member of the governing body may be removed from office by the board by resolution or ordinance, only upon the recommendation of the health authority, and for any of the following reasons:

(1) Failure to retain the qualifications for appointment specified in subdivisions (k) and (n).

(2) Death or a disability that substantially interferes with the member’s ability to carry out the duties of office.

(3) Conviction of any felony or a crime involving corruption.

(4) Failure of the member to discharge legal obligations as a member of a public agency.

(5) Substantial failure to perform the duties of office, including, but not limited to, unreasonable absence from meetings. The failure to attend three meetings in a row of the governing body, or a majority of the meetings in the most recent calendar year, may be deemed to be unreasonable absence.

(s) Any vacancy on the governing body, however created, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the board by resolution or ordinance. Each vacancy shall be filled by an individual having the qualifications of the individual’s predecessor, nominated as set forth in subdivision (k).

(t) The chair of the authority shall be selected by, and serve at the pleasure of, the governing body.

(u) The health authority shall establish all of the following:

(1) A member advisory committee to advise the health authority on issues of concern to the recipients of services.

(2) A program committee to advise the health authority on matters relating to traditional safety net providers, ancillary providers, and other organizations concerned with the activities of the health authority.

(3) Any other committees determined to be advisable by the health authority.

(v) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of state or local law, including, but not limited to, the county charter, a member of the health authority shall not be deemed to be interested in a contract entered into by the authority within the meaning of Article 4 (commencing with Section 1090) of Chapter 1 of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, or within the meaning of conflict-of-interest restrictions in the county charter, if all of the following apply:

(A) The member does not influence or attempt to influence the health authority or another member of the health authority to enter into the contract in which the member is interested.

(B) The member discloses the interest to the health authority and abstains from voting on the contract.

(C) The health authority notes the member’s disclosure and abstention in its official records and authorizes the contract in good faith by a vote of its membership sufficient for the purpose without counting the vote of the interested member.

(D) The member has an interest in or was appointed to represent the interests of physicians, health care practitioners, hospitals, pharmacies, or other health care organizations.

(E) The contract authorizes the member or the organization the member has an interest in or represents to provide services to beneficiaries under the authority’s program or administrative services to the authority.

(2) In addition, no person serving as a member of the governing body shall, by virtue of that membership, be deemed to be engaged in activities that are inconsistent, incompatible, or in conflict with their duties as an officer or employee of the county or the University of California, or as an officer or an employee of any private hospital, clinic, or other health care organization. The membership shall not be deemed to be in violation of Section 1126 of the Government Code.

(w) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, those records of the health authority and of the county that reveal the authority’s rates of payment for health care services or the health authority’s deliberative processes, discussions, communications, or any other portion of the negotiations with providers of health care services for rates of payment, or the health authority’s peer review proceedings shall not be required to be disclosed pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), or any similar local law requiring the disclosure of public records. However, three years after a contract or amendment to a contract is fully executed, the portion of the contract or amendment containing the rates of payment shall be open to inspection.

(x) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the health authority may meet in closed session to consider and take action on peer review proceedings and on matters pertaining to contracts and contract negotiations by the health authority’s staff with providers of health care services concerning all matters relating to rates of payment. However, a decision as to whether to enter into, amend the services provisions of, or terminate, other than for reasons based upon peer review, a contract with a provider of health care services, shall be made in open session.

(y) (1) (A) Notwithstanding the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code), the governing board of the health authority may meet in closed session for the purpose of discussion of, or taking action on matters involving, health authority trade secrets.

(B) The requirement that the authority make a public report of actions taken in closed session and the vote or abstention of every member present may be limited to a brief general description of the action taken and the vote so as to prevent the disclosure of a trade secret.

(C) For purposes of this subdivision, “health authority trade secret” means a trade secret, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3426.1 of the Civil Code, that also meets both of the following criteria:

(i) The secrecy of the information is necessary for the health authority to initiate a new service, program, marketing strategy, business plan, or technology, or to add a benefit or product.

(ii) Premature disclosure of the trade secret would create a substantial probability of depriving the health authority of a substantial economic benefit or opportunity.

(2) Those records of the health authority that reveal the health authority’s trade secrets are exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), or any similar local law requiring the disclosure of public records. This exemption shall apply for a period of two years after the service, program, marketing strategy, business plan, technology, benefit, or product that is the subject of the trade secret is formally adopted by the governing body of the health authority, provided that the service, program, marketing strategy, business plan, technology, benefit, or product continues to be a trade secret. The governing board may delete the portion or portions containing trade secrets from any documents that were finally approved in the closed session held pursuant to this subdivision that are provided to persons who have made the timely or standing request.

(z) The health authority shall be deemed to be a public agency for purposes of all grant programs and other funding and loan guarantee programs.

(aa) Contracts under this article between the State Department of Health Services and the health authority shall be on a nonbid basis and shall be exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.

(ab) (1) The county controller or the controller’s designee, at intervals the county controller deems appropriate, shall conduct a review of the fiscal condition of the health authority, shall report the findings to the health authority and the board, and shall provide a copy of the findings to any public agency upon request.

(2) Upon the written request of the county controller, the health authority shall provide full access to the county controller all health authority records and documents as necessary to allow the county controller or the controller’s designee to perform the activities authorized by this subdivision.

(ac) A Medi-Cal recipient receiving services through the health authority shall be deemed to be a subscriber or enrollee for purposes of Section 1379 of the Health and Safety Code.