(a)

1. (1) For purposes of this section, “foster child” or “foster children” means a Medi-Cal eligible child or children younger than 21 years of age who have been placed into foster care by a county child welfare agency or a county probation department.
2. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature to support timely payment to the provider for services to help ensure foster children placed out of county receive the care and treatment that they need.

(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. (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. (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.

(c)

1. (1) If neither of the options described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) is available, and if the responsibility for arranging and providing specialty mental health services was not transferred, in accordance with Sections 14717.1 and 14717.2, payment for the specialty mental health services shall be made by the mental health plan in the county of original jurisdiction or through an agreement between the mental health plan in the county of residence and the mental health plan in the county of original jurisdiction.
2. (2) The mental health plan in the county of original jurisdiction and the mental health plan in the county of residence shall enter into the agreement for payment of services within 30 days of notice, by either the placing agency or the placement provider, of the out-of-county placement.