CA Welf & Inst Code Section 14138.21

Nothing in this article shall be deemed to affect the amounts paid or the reimbursement methodology applicable to FQHCs for dental services that are provided outside the scope of a contract between the department and an applicable principal health plan that is in effect as of July 1, 2015.

(a)

The department shall contract with an independent entity to perform an evaluation of the APM pilot project authorized pursuant to this article. To the extent practicable, the evaluation shall be completed and provided to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature within six months of the conclusion of the pilot project in those counties that are included in the initial pilot project implementation authorized pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 14138.12. The department shall carry out the duty imposed pursuant to this subdivision only if there are sufficient private foundation or nonprofit foundation funds available for this purpose. A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(b)

The evaluation by the independent entity shall assess and report on whether the APM pilot project produced improvements in access to primary care services, care quality, patient experience, and overall health outcomes for APM enrollees. The evaluation shall include existing FQHC required quality metrics and an assessment of how the changes in financing allowed for alternative types of primary care visits and alternative encounters between the participating FQHC and the patient and how those changes affected volume of same-day visits for mental and physical health conditions. The evaluation shall also assess whether the APM pilot project’s efforts to improve primary care resulted in changes to patient service utilization patterns, including the reduced utilization of avoidable high-cost services and services provided outside the FQHC. The evaluation shall also identify any administrative and financial implementation issues for FQHCs that may arise if subsequent legislation makes the pilot program operative statewide.