Health Plans
AB 1952 by Assembly member Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) on May 3 was amended to require health care service plans and health insurers providing benefits to state residents to comply with rules for participating in a proposed essential health benefits program. The bill would require employers who do not offer health benefits to workers to contribute to an Essential Health Benefits Fund, which the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board would administer. The bill would require the board to offer health care coverage to the uninsured. The bill also includes provisions for establishing electronic health records. The legislation was re-referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee (StateNet, Subscription required).
AB 2889 by Assembly member Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) on May 2 was amended to expand the definition of an "individual health plan" as not including a contract or arrangement that provides discounts or reduced rates for health care services if an individual is responsible for full payment of the discounted rates. The bill would expand the definition of a "federally eligible defined individual" to include a person who has had 18 months of creditable health care coverage, as specified in the bill text, with the most recent coverage being under an individual health plan. The bill addresses the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act, which bars a service plan or insurer from denying coverage to a federally eligible defined individual and from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions on such a person (StateNet, Subscription required).
SB 1591 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) on May 2 was amended to enact on July 1, 2008, regulations related to excessive administrative costs applicable to health insurers that are similar to restrictions placed on health care service plans. The bill was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee (StateNet, Subscription required).