California § 1317.7 - This article does not preempt any county or any other governmental agency acting

§ 1317.7. This article does not preempt any county or any other governmental agency acting

(a) This article does not preempt any county or any other governmental agency acting within its authority from regulating emergency care or patient transfers, including the imposition of more specific duties, consistent with the requirements of this article and its implementing regulations. Any inconsistent requirements imposed by the Medi-Cal program shall preempt this article with respect to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. To the extent hospitals and physicians enter into contractual relationships with county or other governmental agencies that impose more stringent transfer requirements, those contractual agreements shall control. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), those duties or contractual agreements shall not unreasonably delay or deny the provision of medically necessary care to a patient with a psychiatric emergency medical condition, as defined in subdivision (k) of Section 1317.1, regardless of whether the patient is voluntary or involuntarily detained for assessment, evaluation, and crisis intervention, or placement for evaluation and treatment pursuant to the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code).