(b) If a foster child who needs to receive, or who is already receiving, specialty mental health services is placed out of county in a group home, community treatment facility, children’s crisis residential program, or short-term residential therapeutic program, and responsibility for providing and arranging for the child’s specialty mental health services is not transferred, in accordance with Sections 14717.1 and 14717.2, the mental health plan in the county of original jurisdiction and the specialty mental health services provider may choose one of the following options in order to ensure timely payment for specialty mental health services provided to the foster child:
(1) Utilize an existing contract between the mental health plan in the county of original jurisdiction and the specialty mental health services provider for payment of services within a mutually agreed upon timeframe.
(2) Establish a contract for payment of specialty mental health services for a foster child or multiple foster children for payment of services within a mutually agreed upon timeframe.
