(a)

1. (1) The department, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, shall identify those areas of the fee-for-service Medi-Cal program that are at greatest risk of fraud or abuse.

2. (2) In an effort to curb the fraud and abuse, the department shall do one or both of the following:

   1. (A) Request confirmation of service from beneficiaries that services or goods were actually received.
   2. (B) Request confirmation of service from referring and rendering providers that the referring providers actually authorized and the rendering providers actually delivered services or goods underlying claims for reimbursement.
3. (3) For purposes of this section, “areas” includes, but is not limited to, provider types, services, aid code categories, and geographic areas.

(b) For any fee-for-service benefit, the department shall provide a notice to confirm service to the following:

1. (1) The recipient of the benefits.

   1. (A) Notices under this paragraph shall be provided no more frequently than once per calendar month and shall detail all benefits reportedly received that are relevant to the suspected fraudulent or abusive activity identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
   2. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a notice shall not be provided to a beneficiary who has not received benefits that are relevant to the suspected fraudulent or abusive activity identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

2. (2) The referring and rendering providers of benefits.

   1. (A) Notices under this paragraph shall be provided no more frequently than one per calendar month and shall detail all referrals for benefits and all benefits rendered that are relevant to the suspected fraudulent or abusive activity identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
   2. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a notice shall not be sent to a provider who has made no referrals for benefits nor rendered benefits that are relevant to the suspected fraudulent or abusive activity identified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
   3. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a notice shall not be sent to a provider who receives a remittance advice from the state.
   4. (D) Subject to subdivision (e), notices under this paragraph shall be sent to the provider’s mailing address, facsimile number, or electronic mail address, of record with the appropriate licensing agency.