(

a) The following appeals processes shall be available for resolving conflicts between regional centers or state-operated facilities and recipients of, or applicants for, services under this chapter.

(1) An informal meeting held by the regional center or state-operated facility to resolve the issue or issues as provided for in Sections 4710.6 to 4710.9, inclusive.

(2) Mediation as provided for in

Section 4711.5.

(3) A fair hearing as provided for in Sections and 4712. (

b) When filing an appeal, a claimant may initially request one or more parts of the appeals processes identified in subdivision (a). The claimant may subsequently amend their request to select parts of the appeals process not previously selected. However, that request shall constitute a waiver of the rights of a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver participant to receive a fair hearing decision within days of the date that the appeal request form is received by the department or the agency it designates to receive the appeal request form. (

c) If a recipient’s request for an appeal is postmarked or received by the department, or by another agency designated by the department to receive the appeal request, no later than days after receipt of the notice of the proposed action and no later than the effective date of the action sent pursuant to subdivision (

a) of

Section 4710, current services shall continue for the length of time specified in

Section 4715, and the recipient shall be afforded an opportunity for an informal meeting, a mediation, and a fair hearing. (

d) If a recipient or applicant’s request for appeal is postmarked or received by the department, or by another agency designated by the department to receive the appeal request, 60 days after receipt of the notice of proposed action pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b), and (

d) of

Section 4710, they shall be afforded an opportunity for an informal meeting, a mediation, and a fair hearing. (

e) A claimant may request a continuance of any part of the appeals process. If granted, the continuance shall constitute a waiver of the Medicaid home and community-based services waiver participant’s right to receive a fair hearing decision within days of the date the appeal request form is received by the department or by the agency designated by the department to receive the appeal request form. The extension of time for the final decision resulting from the continuance shall be only as long as the time period of the continuance. (

f) This

section shall become operative on March 1, 2023.