(a) The Department of Human Resources shall issue to all eligible recipients a special color picture medicaid identification card, which shall be separate from and entirely distinct from the valid color picture driver license or non-driver identification card. The Medicaid identification card shall be issued only on presentation of proper identification and evidence of medicaid eligibility. The identification card shall be used as identification to providers of medical service, and the identification card shall contain a suitable medium which when used with a suitable data processing system, to be developed by the Department of Human Resources with the technical assistance and advice of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, can provide real-time verification of Medicaid eligibility by the provider.

(b) The Department of Human Resources shall make provision for adequate protection of the confidentiality of the Medicaid recipient.

(c) The provisions of this section are not severable. If any part of this section is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the entire section shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not be effective if they are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to contravene federal laws or federal regulations applicable to the Medicaid Program which would cause the State of Alabama to become ineligible to receive federal Medicaid funds.

(e) The provisions of this section shall become operational and shall be implemented no later than January 1, 1981.