Section 365-B. Local medical plans: professional directors

1.  A local
  social services medical plan shall be developed and maintained  by  each
  social   services   district  under  the  guidance  or  direction  of  a
  professional  director.  Such plan shall conform to the  regulations  of
  the  department  and  shall be submitted to the department and the state
  department of health for review, certification and approval pursuant  to
  the regulations of the department and this title.
    2.    The  commissioner  of  social  services  of each social services
  district  shall  appoint  a  person,   possessing   the   qualifications
  established  by  the  public  health  council  and  promulgated  by  the
  department pursuant to section three hundred sixty-four, to serve  on  a
  full  or  part-time basis.  Each professional director shall serve under
  the general direction of the commissioner of social services  and  shall
  have   the   responsibility  for  supervising  the  program  of  medical
  assistance for needy persons in his social services  district,  pursuant
  to  the regulations of the department.  The state commissioner of health
  may  authorize two or more social services districts to appoint the same
  person to serve as professional director in each of such districts.
    3.   In addition to any other duty  or  responsibility  which  may  be
  assigned  or  delegated pursuant to law or regulation, each professional
  director  shall  be  responsible   for   monitoring   the   professional
  activities,  directly related to the program, of providers practicing in
  his social services district, and  shall  take  all  steps  required  or
  authorized  by  law  or regulation to ensure that such activities are in
  compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the  public  health  law
  and   regulations   promulgated  thereunder,  and  do  not  violate  the
  provisions of section sixty-five hundred nine of the  education  law  or
  regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
    4.    For  purposes  of  this section "provider" shall mean any person
  receiving payment under this title.