(a) Effective July 1, 2004, any subscriber who affirmatively selects, or is assigned by default to, a federally qualified health center, as defined by Section 1396(d)(l)(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code, a rural health clinic, as defined by Section 1396(d)(l)(1) of Title 42 of the United States Code, or a primary care clinic that is licensed under Section 1204 of the Health and Safety Code, or is exempt from licensure under subdivision (h) of Section 1206 of the Health and Safety Code, shall be deemed to have been assigned directly to the federally qualified health center, the rural health clinic, or the primary care clinic, and not to any individual provider who performs services on behalf of the federally qualified health center, the rural health clinic, or the primary care clinic.

(b) (1) When a subscriber is assigned, from any source, to a physician who is an employee of a federally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, or a primary care clinic, the assignment shall constitute an assignment to that federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, or primary care clinic for purposes of the subscriber’s health care coverage.

(2) When a subscriber is assigned, from any source, to a dentist who is an employee of a federally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, or a primary care clinic, the assignment shall constitute an assignment to that federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, or primary care clinic for purposes of the subscriber’s dental coverage.

(3) When a subscriber is assigned, from any source, to an optometrist who is an employee of a federally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, or a primary care clinic, the assignment shall constitute an assignment to that federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, or primary care clinic for purposes of the subscriber’s vision coverage.

(c) This section shall not limit any rights a subscriber may have to select an available primary care physician within a health care service plan’s service area pursuant to Section 1373.3 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 139, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)