Not sooner than 30 days after providing notification to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the department may implement on a test basis any of the alternatives for prospective hospital rate negotiations which have been reported to the Legislature pursuant to Section 14614. The department may enter into an interagency agreement with the commission, or contract with a private entity, for implementing any such alternative.

In testing alternatives, the department shall attempt to obtain participation by hospitals representing various sizes, types, ownership, and geographic locations. The department may not discriminate against hospitals wishing to participate on the basis of any of the characteristics described in the immediately preceding sentence.