(

a) Where it is expected to be cost-effective, the director may, in conducting Medi-Cal acute care inpatient hospital utilization control, establish a program of aggressive case management of elective, nonemergency acute care hospital admissions for the purpose of reducing both the numbers and duration of acute care hospital stays by Medi-Cal beneficiaries. (

b) In conducting the case management program, the department may, conduct daily reviews to determine the need for additional days of inpatient care. (

c) In undertaking this case management program, the director may enter into contracts, on a bid or nonbid basis, for the purposes of obtaining the necessary expertise to train and educate utilization control staff in case management concepts, principles and techniques, identify and recommend cost-effective therapies, services and technology as alternatives to elective acute care hospitalization or to directly provide the case management and diversion services. (

d) In order to achieve maximum cost savings the Legislature hereby determines that an expedited contract process for contracts under this

section is necessary. Therefore, contracts under this

article may be on a nonbid basis, and shall be exempt from the provisions of

Chapter 2 (commencing with

Section 10290) of Part of Division of the Public Contract Code. Contracts shall have no force and effect unless approved by the Department of Finance. (

e) The department shall seek all federal waivers necessary to allow for federal financial participation under this section.