(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Prison Inmate Health Service Reform Act.
(b) The Department of Corrections may enter into joint powers agreements under this chapter with one or more health care districts established in accordance with Division 23 (commencing with Section 32000) of the Health and Safety Code, in order to establish regional inmate health service joint powers agencies.
(c) Inmate health service joint powers authorities may be utilized for any purpose related to the provision, acquisition, or coordination of inmate health care services, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The provision of district hospital-based surgical, diagnostic, emergency, trauma, acute care, skilled nursing, long-term, and inpatient psychiatric care.
(2) Health care utilization review services.
(3) Health facility management consultation services.
(4) Health care contract design, negotiation, management, and related consultation services.
(5) Health care quality monitoring, management, and oversight consulting services.
(6) Physician and health care staff recruitment services.
(7) The design, construction, and operation of dedicated, secure, community-based health care facilities for the provision of inmate health care services.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 310, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)