(a)

(1) Upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, the department shall complete an independent analysis to determine whether network adequacy exists to obtain federal approval for a covered Medi-Cal benefit that provides housing support services. The analysis shall take into consideration all of the following in assessing capacity to provide a covered housing support services benefit: (

A) Providers that are not certified Medi-Cal providers, but are receiving funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing support services. (

B) The number of providers in relation to each region’s or county’s number of people experiencing homelessness. (

C) A comparison of provider networks in states that have implemented Medicaid benefits to fund housing support services, including any similar Medicaid benefits in California serving different populations. (

D) Specific actions the department could take to develop a network of providers meeting the criteria of this section, and an estimated timeline for developing an adequate network, should the analysis conclude that the state’s network is not yet adequate.

(2) The department shall report, in compliance with

Section of the Government Code, the outcomes of the independent analysis to the Legislature by January 1, 2024, so long as an appropriation is made as described in paragraph (1). (

b) For purposes of implementing this section, the department may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis. Contracts entered into or amended pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from

Chapter 6 (commencing with

Section 14825) of

Part 5.5 of Division of Title of the Government Code,

Section of the Government Code,

Part 2 (commencing with

Section 10100) of Division of the Public Contract Code, and the State Administrative Manual, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.