36-261

36-261. Powers and duties; expenditure
limitation

A. The department of health services shall:

1. Employ a full-time or part-time medical director and a full-time or part-time
administrator for children's rehabilitative services who shall have such titles and
duties as shall be fixed by the director. Compensation of the medical director and the
administrator shall be as determined pursuant to section 38-611.

2. Supervise, control and establish policies for children's rehabilitative
services.

3. Adopt all rules and policies for the operation of a children's rehabilitative
services program.

4. Employ such medical and other staff as may be needed, including resident
physicians, whose compensation shall be as determined pursuant to section 38-611.

5. Establish and administer a program of service for children who are crippled or
who are suffering from conditions which lead to crippling. The program shall provide for:

(a) Development, extension and improvement of services for locating such children.

(b) Furnishing of medical, surgical, corrective and other services and care.

(d) Supervision of the administration of services in the program which are not
administered directly by the department.

(e) The extension and improvement of any services included in the program of
services for chronically ill or physically disabled children as required by this section.

(f) Cooperation with medical, health, nursing and welfare groups and organizations
and with any agency of the state charged with administration of laws providing for
vocational rehabilitation of physically handicapped children.

(g) Cooperation with the federal government through its appropriate agency or
instrumentality in developing, extending and improving services for chronically ill or
physically disabled children.

(h) Receipt and expenditure of funds made available to the department for services
to chronically ill or physically disabled children by the federal government, the state
or its political subdivisions or from other sources excluding monies received from
parents or guardians for the care of children.

(i) Carrying on research and compiling statistics.

(j) Making necessary expenditures in connection with the duties provided in this
section.

(k) Establishing and maintaining safeguards relating to the confidential aspect of
medical records.

(l) Acceptance and use of federal funds for children's rehabilitative services at
the discretion of the department and subject to any limitations imposed by the annual
state appropriation bill.

(m) Such other duties and responsibilities found necessary for the effective
operation of a program for chronically ill or physically disabled children.

6. Establish a statewide computerized information and referral service for
chronically ill or physically disabled children to link those children and their families
with local service providers.

7. Deposit in the state general fund all monies received from parents or guardians
for the care of children.

8. Deposit in the state general fund all monies received from adults, other
responsible persons, agencies or third party payors for care provided pursuant to section
36-797.44.

B. In order to carry out the provisions of subsection A of this section the
director may operate outpatient treatment facilities for chronically ill or physically
disabled children and shall contract on the basis of competitive sealed bids for the care
and treatment of chronically ill or physically disabled children in accordance with
subsection C of this section.

C. The director shall prepare and issue a public request for proposal including a
proposed contract format, at least once every four years, to contract for the care and
treatment of chronically ill or physically disabled children subject to the following
authorizations and limitations:

1. The scope of the contracted services shall include inpatient treatment services,
physician services and other care and treatment services and outpatient treatment
services which shall not be mandated at a single location.

2. Bids may be accepted from hospital and medical service corporations, health care
services organizations, hospitals, physicians and any other qualified public or private
persons.

3. A bidder's direct costs, as defined in the request for proposal, shall be
disclosed in and be the basis of the bid submitted. Direct costs shall not include
depreciable real or personal property with an original cost of over one thousand
dollars. For bid evaluation purposes only, the director shall specify a uniform assumed
collection rate applicable to all bidders. If the director executes fee-for-services
health care contracts, the contracts shall provide the maximum payment to be made for
specific procedures and services.

4. The department may award a contract at an amount less than the amount bid, by
use of any procedure authorized by the procurement code.

5. If the director receives an insufficient number of bids for a category of
services or in a medical emergency, the director may contract directly for such services.

6. An invitation for bids, a request for proposals or other solicitation may be
cancelled or any or all bids or proposals may be rejected in whole or in part as may be
specified in the solicitation if it is in the best interests of this state. The reasons
for the cancellation or rejection shall be made part of the contract file. If the amount
appropriated for services provided pursuant to this section is insufficient to pay for
the scope of services as bid, the director may reduce the scope of services to reflect
the amount appropriated or may cancel any invitation for bids, requests for proposals or
other solicitation and contract directly for such services. Such reductions or
suspensions shall not apply to the continuity of care for persons already receiving such
services. Any decision to reduce services shall be made independently from any other
modification of services.

7. The provisions of title 41, chapter 23 shall apply to the procurement process
set forth in this section to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this section. The director may vary the bid format and the terms of the
request for proposal each bid term.

D. In awarding contracts for inpatient and outpatient treatment services under this
section, the department shall use the following criteria in addition to other consistent
criteria:

1. Cost to this state.

2. The treatment facility's demonstrated experience in and qualifications for
providing pediatric services.

E. If the provision of any services under this section requires compliance with
chapter 4, article 2 of this title, the contractor shall comply prior to commencement of
services under this section.

F. The department may, subject to appropriation therefor, provide or arrange for
the provision of health services and supervisory care for child patients of other state
agencies.

G. The department may, through the children's rehabilitative services division,
establish and administer a program for children with sickle cell anemia, as provided for
in section 36-797.43.

H. The department may, through the children's rehabilitative services division,
establish and administer a program for adults with sickle cell anemia, as provided for in
section 36-797.44.

I. The director may provide for the education of inpatients at any facility which
contracts with the director to provide care and treatment of chronically ill or
physically disabled children. The director shall include in his annual proposed budget a
request for sufficient monies to finance the education of inpatients as authorized in
this subsection.

J. The total amount of state monies that may be spent in any fiscal year by the
department of health services for children's rehabilitative services shall not exceed the
amount appropriated or authorized by section 35-173 for that purpose. This section shall
not be construed to impose a duty on an officer, agent or employee of this state to
discharge a responsibility or to create any right in a person or group if the discharge
or right would require an expenditure of state monies in excess of the expenditure
authorized by legislative appropriation for that specific purpose.