(b) Before a Medi-Cal managed care plan commences operations based upon an action of the director that expands the geographic area of Medi-Cal managed care, the department shall perform an evaluation to determine the readiness of any affected Medi-Cal managed care plan to commence operations. The evaluation shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

1. (1) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan demonstrates the ability to provide reliable service utilization and cost data, including, but not limited to, quarterly financial reports, audited annual reports, utilization reports of medical services, and encounter data.
2. (2) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan has an adequate provider network, including, but not limited to, the location, office hours, and language capabilities of primary care physicians and, if applicable, nonphysician medical practitioners, specialists, pharmacies, and hospitals, that the types of specialists in the provider network are based on the population makeup and particular geographic needs, and that whether requirements will be met for availability of services and travel distance standards, as set forth in Sections 53852 and 53885, respectively, of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
3. (3) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan has developed procedures for the monitoring and improvement of quality of care, including, but not limited to, procedures for retrospective reviews which include patterns of practice reviews and drug prescribing practice reviews, utilization management mechanisms to detect both under- and over-utilization of health care services, and procedures that specify timeframes for medical authorization.
4. (4) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan has demonstrated the ability to meet accessibility standards in accordance with Section 1300.67.2 of Title 28 of the California Code of Regulations, including, but not limited to, procedures for appointments, waiting times, telephone procedures, after hours calls, urgent care, and arrangement for the provision of unusual specialty services.
5. (5) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan has met all standards and guidelines established by the department that demonstrate readiness to provide services to enrollees.
6. (6) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan has submitted all required contract deliverables to the department, including, but not limited to, quality improvement systems, utilization management, access and availability, member services, member grievance systems, and enrollments and disenrollments.
7. (7) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s Evidence of Coverage, Member Services Guide, or both, conforms to federal and state statutes and regulations, is accurate, and is easily understood.
8. (8) The extent to which the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s primary care and facility sites have been reviewed and evaluated by the department.