DISCUSSION
Approval of this agreement and authorization of the HHSA Alcohol and Drug Program Administrator (Administrator) to sign it, will allow confidential information to be shared bilaterally between the Administrator and DHCS concerning the temporary suspension or payment suspension of certified Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) providers that are or have been in contract with the HHSA Alcohol & Drug Program. The DHCS needs to share this confidential information with the HHSA Alcohol & Drug Program in its capacity as a DMC contractor because neither DHCS nor its contractors can pay claims submitted by a provider during a period of temporary suspension or payment suspension.
The obligations in this agreement are binding and shall continue until an investigation into a temporarily suspended DMC provider is complete and a final decision regarding a DMC provider’s status is made. However, if a temporary or payment suspension is lifted, confidentiality regarding the DMC provider’s temporary or payment suspension must be maintained by County indefinitely. If a temporary suspension is made permanent, the information is no longer confidential.
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