(a) Pilot projects to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of home health, attendant, or hospice care shall be initiated through a block grant program, as described in this section.

(b) The state director shall designate the contractors and the amounts that contractors will receive for the block grant direct service demonstration projects.

(c) An amount of not more than 10 percent of the grant may be retained by contractors for administrative overhead. Contractors accepting block grant funds shall compile comparative cost data reports for transmission to the department and the Legislature. Reports shall be made semiannually until the conclusion of the project.

(d) Contractors receiving direct service block grants shall:

(1) Encourage broad-based community involvement and support for AIDS programs and involve charitable, other nonprofit, and other agencies as well as health care professionals as providers of essential services.

(2) Ensure the proposed services are not duplicated in the community and are based on the needs of people with AIDS or AIDS-related conditions, at-risk communities, their families, or others affected by AIDS.

(3) Make maximum use of other federal, state, and local funds and programs.

(4) Provide services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to the population served.

(e) Counties with existing programs of demonstrated effectiveness in AIDS education or services shall receive equal consideration with other applicants and shall not be penalized when awarding funds pursuant to this chapter with respect to the proposed expansion of their programs.

(f) Contractors shall develop a comprehensive service system including, but not limited to, the following essential services, that can be provided either directly by the contractors or indirectly through a referral network arranged by the contractor:

(1) Provision for hospice, skilled nursing facility, home health care, and homemaker chore services.

(2) Individual consultation and health planning and assessment.

(3) Information for people with AIDS or AIDS-related conditions regarding death and dying.

(4) Evaluation and referral services for medical care.

(5) Referral services for mental health services, as appropriate.

(6) Assistance in applying for financial aid or social services that are available and for which clients qualify.

The system of essential services developed by a contractor shall offer maximum opportunity for involvement of family, friends, and domestic partners and of nonprofit and charitable organizations in preventing the severe, adverse health and social consequences that result from being diagnosed with AIDS or AIDS-related conditions.

(g) The direct service program for provision of essential services shall ensure both of the following:

(1) An ongoing quality assurance program.

(2) Confidentiality assurances and methods for developing interagency confidentiality agreements.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 439. Effective January 1, 2007.)