Senate BillPassed first houseHealth and Safety
SB 116: Health omnibus trailer.
What SB 116 does, verified December 7, 2025
This bill aims to improve the regulation and safety of health facilities in California. It establishes regulations for acute psychiatric hospitals, including staffing standards and emergency regulations, and repeals provisions related to the Enhanced Treatment Program (ETP). The bill also removes the skilled nursing facility minimum staffing penalty account from the special deposit fund and authorizes the state controller to use the funds for cash flow loans to the general fund. Additionally, the bill abolishes the internal health information integrity quality improvement account and transfers its funds to the internal departmental quality improvement account. The bill removes administrative fines for unlawful disclosures of confidential medical information from the internal health information integrity quality improvement account and deposits them into the internal departmental quality…
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Last action: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on BUDGET. (2025-06-24)Alert me
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| Jun. 24, 2025 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on BUDGET. |
| Mar. 24, 2025 | Referred to Com. on BUDGET. |
| Mar. 20, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 435.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Mar. 20, 2025 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| Mar. 18, 2025 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
Latest bill textAmended version, June 24, 2025 · 45,648 words
| Amended IN Assembly June 24, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 116
| Introduced by Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review |
January 23, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 116, as amended, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Budget Act of 2025. Health omnibus trailer.
(1) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, and special hospitals, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations that establish minimum, specific, and numerical licensed nurse-to-patient ratios by licensed nurse classification and by hospital unit for all general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, and special hospitals. Existing law requires the regulations adopted by the department for acute psychiatric hospitals that are not operated by the State Department of State Hospitals to take into account the special needs of the patients served in the psychiatric units. Existing law generally makes a willful violation of those licensing provisions a crime.
Under existing law, on and after July 1, 2015, any acute psychiatric hospital that submits a completed application and is operated by the State Department of State Hospitals may be approved by the State Department of Public Health to offer, as a supplemental service, an Enhanced Treatment Program (ETP) that meets certain conditions, including sufficient and documented evaluation of violence risk of the patient. Existing law requires an ETP to meet certain requirements relating to staffing and patient room features and to implement certain policies and procedures on patient care.
Under existing law, those ETP provisions remain in effect for each pilot ETP until January 1 of the 5th calendar year after each pilot ETP site has admitted its first patient, and the provisions are repealed as of January 1 of the 5th calendar year after each pilot ETP site has admitted its first patient. Existing law requires the State Department of State Hospitals to post a declaration on its internet website regarding the timing of that repeal condition.
This bill would delete the above-described provisions regarding ETP repeal. The bill would instead repeal those provisions on January 1, 2030, as specified. To the extent that the bill would extend the operation of certain ETP sites, and by extending ETP requirements, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would specify regulations for acute psychiatric hospitals not operated by the State Department of State Hospitals are deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare, and would require the department to adopt emergency regulations for these facilities no later than January 31, 2026, and permanent regulations thereafter, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to readopt the emergency regulations, as specified. The bill would authorize the emergency regulations to include, among other things, staffing standards specific to acute psychiatric hospitals.
(2) Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to use the direct care staffing level data it collects to determine whether a skilled nursing facility has met its nursing hours or direct care service hours per patient per day requirements, as specified. Existing law requires the department to assess specified administrative penalties on skilled nursing facilities that fail to meet these requirements and establishes an administrative process that skilled nursing facilities may use to appeal determinations or assessments made by the department. Existing law continues in the Special Deposit Fund the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account and requires the administrative penalties described above to be deposited into that account. Under existing law, the account is continuously appropriated to the department to support the implementation of these provisions.
This bill would remove the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account from the Special Deposit Fund. The bill would, notwithstanding any other law, authorize the State Controller to use the funds in the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account for cash flow loans to the General Fund, as specified.
(3) Existing law requires a clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice to prevent unlawful or unauthorized access to, and use or disclosure of, patients’ medical information, as defined. Existing law requires the clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice to report any unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information to the State Department of Public Health and to the affected patient or the patient’s representative, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to assess administrative penalties for violation of these provisions and gives the department discretion to consider all factors when determining the amount of a penalty. Existing law requires these and other specified penalty moneys to be deposited into the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account, which is established within the Special Deposit Fund. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, existing law requires the moneys in the account to be expended for internal quality improvement activities in the Licensing and Certification Program.
This bill would remove the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account from the Special Deposit Fund and, notwithstanding specified provisions of law, require all interest earned on the moneys deposited in the account to be retained in the account. The bill would also, notwithstanding any other law, authorize the State Controller to use the funds in the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account for cash flow loans to the General Fund, as specified.
(4) Existing law also establishes the Internal Health Information Integrity Quality Improvement Account. Existing law requires all administrative fines assessed by the State Department of Public Health for unlawful disclosures of confidential medical information, as specified, to be deposited in that account. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, existing law requires money in the account to be used for purposes of supporting quality improvement activities of the department.
The bill would, effective July 1, 2025, abolish the Internal Health Information Integrity Quality Improvement Account and transfer all moneys in the account to the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account. The bill would require all remaining balances, assets, liabilities, and encumbrances of the Internal Health Information Integrity Quality Improvement Account as of July 1, 2025, to be transferred to, and become part of, the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account. The bill would require the administrative fines assessed for unlawful disclosures of confidential medical information described above to be deposited in the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account. The bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require money in the account to be used for purposes of supporting quality improvement activities of the Licensing and Certification Program. The bill would also, notwithstanding any other provision of law, authorize the State Controller to use the funds in the account for cash flow loans to the General Fund, as specified.
(5) Existing law provides for the licensure of long-term health care facilities by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law establishes the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account and the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account in the Special Deposit Fund into which moneys from civil penalties for violations of state and federal law, respectively, are deposited. Existing law requires the moneys in those accounts to be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, in accordance with state and federal law for the protection of health or property of residents of long-term health care facilities, as specified.
This bill would remove the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account and the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account from the Special Deposit Fund.
(6) Existing law requires a skilled nursing facility, by January 1, 2026, to have an alternative source of power, as defined, to protect resident health and safety, as defined, for no fewer than 96 hours during any type of power outage. Existing law imposes specific compliance requirements based on whether a skilled nursing facility uses a generator as its alternative source of power, or batteries or a combination of batteries in tandem with a renewable electrical generation facility.
This bill would instead require a skilled nursing facility to comply with these provisions on or after January 1, 2026, commencing on the first day of the Medi-Cal skilled nursing facility rate year for which the State Department of Health Care Services publishes a written notice on its internet website that the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for the express purpose of providing an add-on to the Medi-Cal skilled nursing facility per diem rate for the projected Medi-Cal cost compliance, as specified. The bill would authorize the State Department of Health Care Services to implement these requirements by means of provider bulletins, policy letters, or other similar instructions, without taking regulatory action.
(7) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance.
Existing law requires a pharmacy benefit manager under contract with a health care service plan to, among other things, register with the Department of Managed Health Care.
This bill would instead require a pharmacy benefit manager contracting with a health care service plan or health insurer to secure a license from the Department of Managed Health Care on or after January 1, 2027, or the date on which the department has established the licensure process, whichever is later. The bill would establish application requirements, and would require a pharmacy benefit manager applying for licensure to reimburse the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care for the actual cost of processing the application, including overhead, up to an amount not to exceed $25,000. The bill would require a pharmacy benefit manager to submit financial statements to the department at specified intervals, and would require those statements and other proprietary information to be kept confidential, as specified. The bill would authorize the director to suspend or revoke a pharmacy benefit manager license, but would provide that, once issued, a license remains in effect until revoked or suspended. The bill would authorize a pharmacy benefit manager whose license has been revoked, or suspended for more than one year to petition the director to reinstate the license, and would authorize the director to prescribe a fee, not to exceed $500, for the actual cost of processing the petition. The bill would create the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund in the State Treasury, into which fees, fines, penalties, and reimbursements collected from pharmacy benefit managers would be deposited, except fines and administrative penalties for specified acts or omissions would be deposited into the newly created Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund in the State Treasury. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires the Department of Health Care Access and Information to implement and administer the Health Care Payments Data System to learn about and seek to improve public health, population health, social determinants of health, and the health care system.
This bill would require a pharmacy benefit manager to provide specified data to the Department of Health Care Access and Information regarding drug pricing, fees, and other information. The bill would require a licensed health care service plan to pay an annual fee for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 fiscal years for the reasonably necessary expenses of the Department of Health Care Access and Information to fund the Health Care Payments Data Program. The bill would also require a licensed pharmacy benefit manager to pay amounts twice per year to fund the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the department to implement pharmacy benefit manager licensing and the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the Department of Health Care Access and Information pertaining to data reporting by pharmacy benefit managers. The bill would require the Health Care Payments Data Program advisory committee to include pharmacy benefit managers.
(8) Existing law requires large group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services, including a maximum of 3 completed oocyte retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers, as specified. Existing law also requires small group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, to offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services.
This bill would instead require compliance with the above-described provisions by large and small group health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill would authorize the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care and the Insurance Commissioner to issue guidance regarding these provisions until January 1, 2027, and would require the departments to consult with each other and stakeholders in issuing that guidance.
(9) Existing law authorizes the State Public Health Officer, to the extent allowable under federal law, and upon the availability of funds, to expend moneys from the continuously appropriated AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Rebate Fund for a program to cover the costs of prescribed ADAP formulary medications for the prevention of HIV infection and other specified costs.
Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health, to the extent that the activities are an allowable use of funds, to spend up to $23,000,000 from the ADAP Rebate Fund to implement certain programs, including an allocation of $5,000,000 annually for 3 years, beginning on July 1, 2024, to the Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex (TGI) Wellness and Equity Fund to fund services related to care and treatment for eligible individuals living with HIV and AIDS.
Under existing law, expenditure from the ADAP Rebate Fund also includes an allocation of $5,000,000, in the 2024–25 fiscal year, available until June 30, 2027, to distribute funding to a community-based organization to make internal and external condoms available, if Senate Bill 954 of the 2023–24 Regular Session becomes effective, aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
This bill would additionally allow the moneys allocated to the TGI Wellness and Equity Fund to fund services related to HIV prevention, and would have the allocation begin instead on July 1, 2025. With regard to funding for condoms, the bill would remove the condition that Senate Bill 954 become effective, and would authorize the allocation until June, 30, 2028. This bill would authorize the State Department of Public Health to spend up to $75,000,000 from the ADAP Rebate Fund to support current or eligible HIV services and programs, as specified. The bill would specify the allocation of those funds, including by authorizing up to $65,000,000 of that $75,000,000 to be spent to supplement or fund services, programs, or initiatives for which federal funding has been reduced or eliminated. By adding to the purposes of the ADAP Rebate Fund, and by extending the terms of certain allocations, the bill would make an appropriation.
(10) Existing law requires the Office of Health Equity within the State Department of Public Health to administer the TGI Wellness and Equity Fund for purposes of funding grants to create programs, or funding existing programs, focused on coordinating trans-inclusive health care for individuals who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, or intersex.
This bill would instead refer only to the State Department of Public Health, without specifying the office, for purposes of administering the fund.
Existing law authorizes use of the moneys in the fund, upon appropriation, to fund grants for certain purposes, including grants to TGI-serving organizations for the purpose of facilitating therapeutic arts programs, such as dancing, painting, or writing.
This bill would restructure that specific purpose by having the grants be made available to TGI-serving organizations for facilitating evidence-based therapeutic arts programs. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.
(11) Existing law, the California Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act of 2020, requires the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) to enter into partnerships, in consultation with other state departments as necessary, to, among other things, increase patient access to affordable drugs. Existing law authorizes CHHSA to enter into partnerships regarding over-the-counter naloxone products to allow the development, manufacturing, or distribution of those products by an entity that is authorized to do so under federal or state law.
This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, would additionally authorize CHHSA to enter into partnerships to increase competition, lower prices, and address supply shortages for generic or brand name drugs to address emerging health concerns, for the development, production, procurement, or distribution of vaccines, as specified, and for the manufacture, purchase, or distribution of medical supplies or medical devices.
(12) Existing law requires, when a defendant pleads not guilty by reason of insanity, that a jury determine whether the defendant was sane or insane at the time the offense was committed. Under existing law, if a defendant is found to be not guilty by reason of insanity, the court is required to commit the person to the State Department of State Hospitals or any other appropriate public or private treatment facility, as specified. If a defendant is confined in a state hospital or other treatment facility as an inpatient, existing law requires the medical director of the facility to submit a report, at 6-month intervals, to the court and the community program director of the county of commitment setting forth the status and progress of the defendant.
This bill would instead require the above-described report to be submitted every 12 months.
(13) Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including prescribed drugs subject to the Medi-Cal list of contract drugs.
Existing law requires a specified health care service plan contract, including a Medi-Cal managed care plan, to cover the costs for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing, as provided, regardless of whether the services are provided by an in-network or out-of-network provider. Existing law prohibits this coverage from being subject to copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or any other form of cost sharing. Existing law also prohibits a health care service plan from imposing prior authorization or any other utilization management requirements on COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to seek any federal approval it deems necessary to implement those provisions regarding COVID-19.
This bill would require a Medi-Cal managed care plan, as defined, to cover COVID-19 screening, testing, immunizations, and therapeutics in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, all plan letters, the Medi-Cal provider manual, Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts with the department, as specified, and other guidance. The bill would exclude Medi-Cal managed care plans from the above-described prohibitions against cost sharing and utilization management by a health care service plan for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing. The bill would remove the above-described requirement on the State Department of Health Care Services to seek federal approval.
(14) Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits covered under the Medi-Cal program, including hospice service that is certified under the federal Medicare Program, subject to utilization controls. Under existing law, coverage is available only to the extent that no additional net program costs are incurred. Under existing law, prior authorization is not required for hospice services, with exceptions in the case of any admission that violates federal law or for inpatient hospice services.
This bill would make the above-described restriction on prior authorization inoperative on July 1, 2026, and would repeal it as of January 1, 2027. Under the bill, hospice services would be covered under Medi-Cal in accordance with Medicare requirements and subject to utilization controls, while maintaining the condition on net program costs. The bill would condition implementation of this coverage on the availability of federal financial participation and receipt of any necessary federal approvals.
(15) Existing law authorizes the department to enter into contracts with manufacturers of single-source and multiple-source drugs, on a bid or nonbid basis, for drugs from each major therapeutic category. Existing law requires all pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide to the department a state rebate equal to an amount not less than 10% of the average manufacturer price based on Medi-Cal utilization data for any drug products that have been added to the Medi-Cal list of contract drugs under provisions relating to treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or an AIDS-related condition or to treatment of cancer. Existing law authorizes the department to restrict the availability of the drug products of certain manufacturers by requiring prior authorization when the department has not received a timely rebate payment, but authorizes a beneficiary to continue obtaining those drugs if the beneficiary qualifies for continuing care status. Continuing care status requires a beneficiary to have been taking the drug at the time the manufacturer is placed on prior authorization status and the department to receive a claim for the drug with a date of service that is within 100 days prior to the date the manufacturer was placed on prior authorization status.
This bill would delete the above-described provisions on continuing care status and, instead, beginning January 1, 2026, would authorize beneficiaries to continue to receive drugs previously prescribed but subject to prior authorization if their pharmacy provider or prescriber initiates a prior authorization request that is subsequently approved by the department. This bill would, effective January 1, 2026, for pharmaceutical manufacturers renewing or entering new state rebate agreements, require that the rebate amount be in an amount not less than 20% of the average manufacturer price if the federal rebate is less than 50% of that price, or an amount not less than 15% of that price if the federal rebate is 50% or greater of that price.
Under existing law, for purposes of the above-described drug products, if the pharmaceutical manufacturer does not enter into a supplemental rebate agreement within 60 days after the addition of the drug to the Medi-Cal list of contract drugs, the manufacturer is required to provide to the department a state rebate equal to not less than 20% of the average manufacturer price, as specified.
This bill would increase the state rebate minimum threshold to not less than 25% of the price. The bill would make a conforming change to a related provision.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal Drug Rebate Fund, into which nonfederal moneys collected by the department under the above-described rebate provisions are deposited. Under existing law, funds deposited into the Medi-Cal Drug Rebate Fund are continuously appropriated to the department for purposes of funding the nonfederal share of health care services for children, adults, seniors, and persons with disabilities enrolled in the Medi-Cal program.
By increasing the state rebate minimum threshold for the above-described drug products, the bill would make an appropriation.
Existing law requires the department, when it determines that a drug should be removed from the list of contract drugs, to conduct a public hearing to receive comment on the impact of removing the drug.
This bill would, instead of a public hearing, require the department to provide individual notice to impacted beneficiaries that the drug is only obtainable through the prior authorization process. The bill would require that the notice include a description of the beneficiary’s right to a fair hearing and would encourage the beneficiary to consult a physician. The bill would require the department to also provide provider notice about the removal of the drug, as specified.
(16) Existing law requires, with exceptions, the temporary placement of a Medi-Cal provider under payment suspension upon receipt of a credible allegation of fraud for which an investigation is pending under the Medi-Cal program against the provider. Existing law sets forth related provisions regarding the department’s collection of overpayments, appeal procedures afforded to the provider, offsetting of the overpayments to satisfy audit or appeal findings if the findings are against the provider, and return of the overpayments if the findings are in favor of the provider, as specified. Existing law authorizes the lifting of a payment suspension upon resolution of an investigation for fraud or abuse.
This bill would create the Medi-Cal Anti-Fraud Special Deposit Fund for the deposit of outstanding Medi-Cal payments intercepted as a result of a payment suspension. Under the bill, moneys would be continuously appropriated and allocated, but would remain in the fund until the department lifts the suspension, after which the department would be authorized to return the intercepted Medi-Cal payments to the provider or to offset the payments against any liabilities or restitution owed by the provider to the department.
(17) Existing law, the Medi-Cal Long-Term Care Reimbursement Act, requires the department to implement a facility-specific ratesetting system for certain skilled nursing facilities using a cost-based reimbursement rate methodology. Existing law requires the department, subject to any necessary federal approvals, for managed care rating periods that begin between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2026, inclusive, to establish and implement the Workforce and Quality Incentive Program. Under that program, a network provider furnishing skilled nursing facility services to a Medi-Cal managed care enrollee is authorized to earn performance-based directed payments from the Medi-Cal managed care plan with which they contract, as specified, in addition to other certain payments. Existing law repeals the act on January 1, 2028, as specified.
This bill would instead apply the program to managed care rating periods that begin between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025, inclusive. The bill would make the provisions relating to the program inoperative on January 1, 2026, and authorize the department to conduct all necessary closeout activities applicable to any managed care rating period before January 1, 2026. The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2027, or on the date that the Director of Health Care Services certifies to the Secretary of State that all necessary closeout activities have been completed, whichever is later, but no later than January 1, 2028. The bill would delete a related provision regarding the supplementation of funds available for payments made under the program, as described above, for the 2026 calendar year.
(18) Existing law, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, expands the schedule of benefits to include an annual cognitive health assessment for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are 65 years of age or older if they are otherwise ineligible for a similar assessment as part of an annual wellness visit under the Medicare Program. Existing law makes a Medi-Cal provider eligible to receive the payment for this benefit only if they comply with certain requirements, including completing cognitive health assessment training, as specified. Existing law requires the department, by January 1, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter, to consolidate and analyze data related to the benefit, and to post information on the utilization of, and payment for, the benefit on its internet website.
This bill would delete the requirement that a Medi-Cal provider complete specified cognitive health assessment training to be eligible to receive the payment. The bill would also delete the requirement that the department consolidate and analyze data and post information related to the benefit every 2 years.
(19) Existing law authorizes the Director of Health Care Services to terminate a contract or impose sanctions if the director finds that an entity that contracts with the department for the delivery of health care services, known as a contractor, fails to comply with contract requirements, state or federal law or regulations, or the state plan or approved waivers, or for other good cause. Existing law includes various entities as part of the definition of “contractor” for purposes of these provisions, including Medi-Cal managed care plans and Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery systems.
This bill would add, to the list of contractors subject to the above-described provisions, entities under the Home- and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), as specified.
(20) Under existing law, to the extent that federal financial participation is available, federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services are covered Medi-Cal benefits. Under existing law, FQHC and RHC services are reimbursed on a per-visit basis, as defined.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, require reimbursement for FQHC and RHC services that are eligible for federal financial participation. The bill would revise the definition of visit for purposes of this provision to mean a face-to-face encounter between an FQHC or RHC patient and specified health professionals that is eligible for federal financial participation or an encounter between an FQHC or RHC patient and specified health professionals using specified modalities, including, among others, video synchronous interaction, when services delivered through those modalities meet the applicable standard of care and are eligible for federal participation.
(21) Existing law requires the department to establish the Nondesignated Public Hospital Intergovernmental Transfer Program to provide supplemental payments to nondesignated public hospitals in a manner that maximizes federal financial participation in the resulting supplemental payments. Existing law authorizes a transferring entity, as defined, to agree to transfer its intergovernmental transfer (IGT) allocation, as defined, to the state in accordance with the program, and requires the state to deposit the transferred funds into the Medi-Cal Inpatient Payment Adjustment Fund, which is a continuously appropriated fund. Existing law authorizes the state to retain 9% of each intergovernmental transfer amount to reimburse the department, or transfer to the General Fund, for the administrative costs of operating the program and for the benefit of Medi-Cal children’s health care programs.
This bill would require a nondesignated public hospital participating in the program to reimburse the department for specified administrative costs as a condition of receiving the above-described supplemental payments. Beginning with the 2026–27 fiscal year and every fiscal year thereafter, the bill would require the state to retain a percentage of each IGT amount associated with interim supplemental payments such that the total amount retained is equal to the projected administrative cost to the department, as specified. The bill would require the department to project the specified administrative costs each fiscal year to determine the percentage to be retained. To the extent the bill would continuously appropriate additional moneys, the bill would make an appropriation.
(22) Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal Hospital/Uninsured Care Demonstration Project Act, which revises hospital reimbursement methodologies under the Medi-Cal program to maximize the use of federal funds consistent with federal Medicaid law and stabilize the distribution of funding for hospitals that provide care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries and uninsured patients. Existing law provides funding, in supplementation of Medi-Cal reimbursement, to various hospitals, including nondesignated public hospitals, in accordance with certain provisions relating to disproportionate share hospitals. Existing law establishes the Nondesignated Public Hospital Supplemental Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, in the State Treasury, and requires all amounts in the fund for a project year in excess of the amount necessary to make specified supplemental payments to be available for negotiation by the California Medical Assistance Commission, as provided.
For the 2025–26 fiscal year, this bill would require additional supplemental payments to be made to nondesignated public hospitals that meet certain criteria such that the specified payments made are equal to the prescribed amount transferred from the General Fund plus the applicable amount of federal financial participation that is available for the nonfederal share of payments. The bill would require the remaining amounts in the fund to be used for supplemental payments to nondesignated public hospitals pursuant to a methodology developed by the department, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative on June 30, 2026, abolish the fund effective December 31, 2028, and repeal these provisions on July 1, 2030. The bill would authorize the department to conduct any necessary and remaining duties, as specified, even after these provisions become inoperative.
(23) The federal Medicaid program prohibits payment to a state for medical assistance furnished to an alien who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Existing state law extends Medi-Cal eligibility for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits to an individual who does not have satisfactory immigration status if they are otherwise eligible for those benefits, as specified.
This bill would instead exclude an individual who is 19 years of age or older and does not have satisfactory immigration status from dental benefits under Medi-Cal, as specified and would, beginning no sooner than July 1, 2027, require individuals who are not pregnant and who are 19 to 59 years of age, inclusive, to pay a monthly premium of $30, subject to certain exceptions. The bill would make an individual who is 19 years of age or older and does not have satisfactory immigration status and who applies for Medi-Cal on or after January 1, 2026, eligible only for pregnancy-related services and emergency medical treatment. The bill would delay the implementation of certain provisions until the director makes specified communications to the Department of Finance. The bill would make other conforming changes. Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and this bill would alter Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(24) Existing law prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose income eligibility for Medi-Cal is determined based on the application of a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Existing federal law authorizes a state to establish a non-MAGI standard for determining the eligibility of certain populations.
Existing law, subject to receipt of any necessary federal approvals, prohibits the use of resources, including property or other assets, to determine Medi-Cal eligibility for applicants or beneficiaries whose eligibility is not determined using the MAGI-based financial methods. Existing law requires the department to seek federal authority to disregard all resources as authorized by the flexibilities provided pursuant to federal law.
This bill would, commencing on January 1, 2026, remove the above-described prohibition on the use of resources for determining Medi-Cal eligibility in non-MAGI cases and implement a disregard of $130,000 in nonexempt property for a case with one member and $65,000 for each additional household member, up to a maximum of 10 members, as specified. As part of conforming changes, the bill would make certain provisions inoperative on January 1, 2026, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2027. The bill would make certain inoperative provisions operative for purposes of reinstating references to resources or assets.
The bill would make certain additional changes to the above-described provisions, including modifying the timeline of certain regulations and changing certain reporting requirements.
By creating new duties for counties relating to the consideration of resources for determining Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(25) Existing law establishes the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, administered by the California Health and Human Services Agency and its departments, with the purpose of transforming the state’s behavioral health system into an innovative ecosystem in which all children and youth 25 years of age and younger, regardless of payer, are screened, supported, and served for emerging and existing behavioral health needs. Existing law requires, subject to an appropriation, that the initiative include, among other things, grants to qualified entities to support implementation of the initiative for behavioral health services in schools and investments for behavioral health workforce, education, and training. Existing law authorizes the Department of Health Care Access and Information to award competitive grants to qualified entities and individuals to expand the supply of behavioral health counselors, coaches, peer supports, and other allied health care providers serving children and youth, including those at schoolsites.
Existing law defines a “behavioral health coach,” for purposes of those provisions, to mean a new category of behavioral health provider who, among other things, (A) is trained specifically to help address the unmet mental health and substance use needs of children and youth, (B) receives appropriate supervision from licensed staff, and (C) has training and qualifications, including psychoeducation, system navigation, crisis deescalation, safety planning, coping skills, and motivational interviewing.
This bill would revise these provisions to replace the term “behavioral health coach” with “certified wellness coach.” The bill would specify that a certified wellness coach receives appropriate supervision and coordination from staff who are licensed or who hold a pupil personnel services credential or school nurse services credential. The bill would add crisis referral to, and remove crisis deescalation and safety planning from, the list of a certified wellness coach’s training and qualifications.
(26) Existing law, as a component of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, authorizes the State Department of Health Care Services to award competitive grants to entities that it deems qualified to, among other things, expand access to licensed medical and behavioral health professionals, counselors, peer support specialists, community health workers, and behavioral health coaches serving children and youth.
This bill would revise that provision to replace the term “behavioral health coaches” with “certified wellness coaches.”
(27) Existing law establishes a Department of Health Care Access and Information within the California Health and Human Services Agency.
Existing law requires the department, on or before July 1, 2023, to develop and approve statewide requirements for community health worker certificate programs and to approve the curriculum required for programs to certify community health workers. Existing law requires the department, on or before July 1, 2023, to review, approve, or renew evidence-based curricula and community-defined curricula for core competencies, specialized programs, and training. Existing law requires an organization that seeks approval or renewal of a community health worker certificate program to submit a community health worker certificate program plan, submit to periodic reviews, and submit annual community health worker certificate program reports, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department, in consultation with stakeholders, to request that an individual who is either enrolled in, or who has completed, a community health worker certificate program submit specified workforce data. Existing law defines “community health worker” to, among other things, include nonlicensed health workers with the qualifications developed pursuant to these provisions.
This bill would repeal these provisions. The bill would make conforming changes to provisions defining “community health worker” by cross-reference to the above-described definition.
(28) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
(29) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
(30) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2025.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1265.9 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1265.9.
(a) On and after July 1, 2015, any acute psychiatric hospital that submits a completed application and is operated by the State Department of State Hospitals may be approved by the State Department of Public Health to offer, as a supplemental service, an Enhanced Treatment Program (ETP) that meets the requirements of this section, Section 4144 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and applicable regulations.(b)This section shall remain in effect for each pilot ETP until January 1 of the fifth calendar year after each pilot ETP site has admitted its first patient, and is repealed as of January 1 of the fifth calendar year after each pilot ETP site has admitted its first patient, unless a later enacted statute extending the program is enacted prior to those dates. The State Department of State Hospitals shall post a declaration on its Internet Web site when the condition for repealing this section is met stating that this section is repealed.
(c)
(b) (1) Prior to the admission of the first patient into the last pilot ETP, the State Department of Public Health may adopt emergency regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) to implement this section. The adoption of an emergency regulation under this paragraph is deemed to address an emergency, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the State Department of Public Health is hereby exempted for this purpose from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.
(2) As an alternative to paragraph (1) and notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of Administrative Procedures Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the director of the State Department of Public Health may implement this section, in whole or in part, by means of an all facility letter or other similar instruction.
(d)
(c) An ETP shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Maintain a staff-to-patient ratio of one to five.
(2) Limit each room to one patient.
(3) Each patient room shall allow visual access by staff 24 hours per day.
(4) Each patient room shall have a toilet and sink in the room.
(5) Each patient room door shall have the capacity to be locked externally. The door may be locked when clinically indicated and determined to be the least restrictive treatment environment for the patient’s care and treatment pursuant to Section 4144 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, but shall not be considered seclusion, as defined by in subdivision (e) of Section 1180.1, for purposes of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 1180).
(6) Provide emergency egress for ETP patients.
(7) In the event that seclusion or restraints, as defined by in Section 1180.1, are used in an ETP, all state licensing and regulations shall be followed.
(8) A full-time independent patients’ rights advocate who provides patients’ rights advocacy services shall be assigned to each ETP.
(e)
(d) The ETPs shall adopt and implement policies and procedures necessary to encourage patient improvement, recovery, and a return to a standard treatment environment, and to create identifiable facility requirements and bench marks. benchmarks. The policies and procedures shall also provide all of the following:
(1) Criteria and process for admission into an ETP pursuant to Section 4144 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2) Clinical assessment and review focused on behavior, history, high risk of most dangerous behavior, and clinical need for patients to receive treatment in an ETP as the least restrictive treatment environment.
(3) A process for identifying an ETP along a continuum of care that will best meet the patient’s needs, including least restrictive treatment environment.
(4) A process for creating and implementing a treatment plan with regular clinical review and reevaluation of placement back into a standard treatment environment and discharge and reintegration planning as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 4144 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(f)
(e) Patients who have been admitted to an ETP shall have the same rights guaranteed to patients not in an ETP with the exception set forth in paragraph (5) of subdivision (d). (c).
(g)
(f) For purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), (c), “staff” means licensed nurses and psychiatric technicians providing direct patient care.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2030, deletes or extends that date.
SEC. 2.
Section 1276.4 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1276.4.
(a) By January 1, 2002, the State Department of Public Health shall adopt regulations that establish minimum, specific, and numerical licensed nurse-to-patient ratios by licensed nurse classification and by hospital unit for all health facilities licensed pursuant to subdivision(b) These ratios shall constitute the minimum number of registered and licensed nurses that shall be allocated. Additional staff shall be assigned in accordance with a documented patient classification system for determining nursing care requirements, including the severity of the illness, the need for specialized equipment and technology, the complexity of clinical judgment needed to design, implement, and evaluate the patient care plan and the ability for self-care, and the licensure of the personnel required for care.
(c) “Critical care unit” as used in this section means a unit that is established to safeguard and protect patients whose severity of medical conditions requires continuous monitoring, and complex intervention by licensed nurses.
(d) All health facilities licensed under subdivision (a), (b), or (f) of Section 1250 shall adopt written policies and procedures for training and orientation of nursing staff.
(e) No registered nurse shall be assigned to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has first received orientation in that clinical area sufficient to provide competent care to patients in that area, and has demonstrated current competence in providing care in that area.
(f) The written policies and procedures for orientation of nursing staff shall require that all temporary personnel shall receive orientation and be subject to competency validation consistent with Sections 70016.1 and 70214 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
(g) Requests for waivers to this section that do not jeopardize the health, safety, and well-being of patients affected and that are needed for increased operational efficiency may be granted by the department to rural general acute care hospitals meeting the criteria set forth in Section 70059.1 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
(h) In case of conflict between this section and any provision or regulation defining the scope of nursing practice, the scope of practice provisions shall control.
(i) The regulations adopted by the department shall augment and not replace existing nurse-to-patient ratios that exist in regulation or law for the intensive care units, the neonatal intensive care units, or the operating room.
(j) The regulations adopted by the department shall not replace existing licensed staff-to-patient ratios for hospitals operated by the State Department of State Hospitals.
(k) (1) The regulations adopted by the department for health facilities licensed under subdivision (b) of Section 1250 that are not operated by the State Department of State Hospitals shall take into account the special needs of the patients served in the psychiatric units.
(2) The department shall adopt emergency regulations pursuant to this subdivision no later than January 31, 2026. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this subdivision that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted under this subdivision.
(3) The adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this subdivision and two readoptions of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Emergency regulations and readoptions authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The emergency regulations and the readoptions authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the adoption and readoptions of these emergency regulations shall be exempt from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days.
(4) The emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this subdivision may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(A) Staffing standards, including nurse-to-patient, specific to acute psychiatric hospitals.
(B) Requirements used to determine appropriate staffing based on patient acuity and care needs.
(C) Requirements that the State Department of Public Health deems necessary or relevant to staffing policies and procedures to promote patient safety.
(l) The department may take into consideration the unique nature of the University of California teaching hospitals as educational institutions when establishing licensed nurse-to-patient ratios. The department shall coordinate with the Board of Registered Nursing to ensure that staffing ratios are consistent with the Board of Registered Nursing approved nursing education requirements. This includes nursing clinical experience incidental to a work-study program rendered in a University of California clinical facility approved by the Board of Registered Nursing provided there will be sufficient direct care registered nurse preceptors available to ensure safe patient care.
SEC. 3.
Section 1276.66 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1276.66.
(a) (1)(2) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code or any other law, the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account is hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, to the State Department of Public Health to support the implementation of this section.
(b) (1) The State Department of Public Health shall use the direct care staffing level data it collects to determine whether a skilled nursing facility has met the nursing hours or direct care service hours per patient per day requirements pursuant to Section 1276.5 or 1276.65, as applicable.
(2) (A) The State Department of Public Health shall assess a skilled nursing facility, licensed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1250, an administrative penalty if the State Department of Public Health determines that the skilled nursing facility fails to meet the nursing hours or direct care service hours per patient per day requirements pursuant to Section 1276.5 or 1276.65, as applicable, as follows:
(i) Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) if the facility fails to meet the requirements for 5 percent or more of the audited days up to 49 percent.
(ii) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) if the facility fails to meet the requirements for over 49 percent or more of the audited days.
(B) (i) If the skilled nursing facility does not dispute the determination or assessment, the penalties shall be paid in full by the licensee to the State Department of Public Health within 30 days of the facility’s receipt of the notice of penalty and deposited into the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account.
(ii) The State Department of Public Health may, upon written notification to the licensee, request that the State Department of Health Care Services offset any moneys owed to the licensee by the Medi-Cal program or any other payment program administered by the State Department of Health Care Services to recoup the penalty provided for in this section.
(C) (i) If a facility disputes the determination or assessment made pursuant to this paragraph, the facility shall, within 30 days of the facility’s receipt of the determination and assessment, simultaneously submit a request for appeal to both the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health. A request for an appeal may be made by a facility based upon a determination that does not result in an assessment. The request shall include a detailed statement describing the reason for appeal and include all supporting documents the facility will present at the hearing.
(ii) Within 30 days of the State Department of Public Health’s receipt of the facility’s request for appeal, the State Department of Public Health shall submit, to both the facility and the State Department of Health Care Services, its responsive arguments and all supporting documents that the State Department of Public Health will present at the hearing.
(D) The State Department of Health Care Services shall hear a timely appeal and issue a decision as follows:
(i) The hearing shall commence within 60 days from the date of receipt by the State Department of Health Care Services of the facility’s timely request for appeal.
(ii) The State Department of Health Care Services shall issue a decision within 120 days from the date of receipt by the State Department of Health Care Services of the facility’s timely request for appeal.
(iii) The decision of the State Department of Health Care Services’ hearing officer, when issued, shall be the final decision of the State Department of Public Health.
(E) The appeals process set forth in this paragraph shall be exempt from Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500), of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The provisions of Sections 100171 and 131071 do not apply to appeals under this paragraph.
(F) If a hearing decision issued pursuant to subparagraph (D) is in favor of the State Department of Public Health, the skilled nursing facility shall pay the penalties to the State Department of Public Health within 30 days of the facility’s receipt of the decision. The penalties collected shall be deposited into the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account.
(c) The assessment of a penalty under this section shall not prohibit any state or federal enforcement action, including, but not limited to, State Department of Public Health’s investigation process or issuance of deficiencies or citations under Chapter 2.4 (commencing with Section 1417).
(d) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the State Department of Public Health may implement this section by means of all-facility letters or other similar instructions without taking regulatory action.
(e) In implementing this section, the State Department of Public Health may contract, as necessary, with California’s Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, or other entities deemed qualified by the State Department of Public Health, not associated with a skilled nursing facility. The department may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis for purposes of implementing this subdivision. Contracts entered into or amended pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, the State Administrative Manual, and the State Contracting Manual, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the State Department of General Services.
(f)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.
(f) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Controller may use the funds in the Skilled Nursing Facility Minimum Staffing Penalty Account for cash flow loans to the General Fund as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.
SEC. 4.
Section 1280.15 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1280.15.
(a) A clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice licensed pursuant to Section 1204, 1250, 1725, or 1745 shall prevent unlawful or unauthorized access to, and use or disclosure of, patients’ medical information, as defined in Section 56.05 of the Civil Code and consistent with Section 1280.18. For purposes of this section, internal paper records, electronic mail, or facsimile transmissions inadvertently misdirected within the same facility or health care system within the course of coordinating care or delivering services shall not constitute unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information. The department, after investigation, may assess an administrative penalty for a violation of this section of up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per patient whose medical information was unlawfully or without authorization accessed, used, or disclosed, and up to seventeen thousand five hundred dollars ($17,500) per subsequent occurrence of unlawful or unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of that patient’s medical information. For purposes of the investigation, the department shall consider the clinic’s, health facility’s, agency’s, or hospice’s history of compliance with this section and other related state and federal statutes and regulations, the extent to which the facility detected violations and took preventative action to immediately correct and prevent past violations from recurring, and factors outside its control that restricted the facility’s ability to comply with this section. The department shall have full discretion to consider all factors when determining whether to investigate and the amount of an administrative penalty, if any, pursuant to this section.(b) (1) A clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice to which subdivision (a) applies shall report any unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information to the department no later than 15 business days after the unlawful or unauthorized access, use, or disclosure has been detected by the clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice.
(2) Subject to subdivision (c), a clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice shall also report any unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information to the affected patient or the patient’s representative at the last known address, or by an alternative means or at an alternative location as specified by the patient or the patient’s representative in writing pursuant to Section 164.522(b) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, no later than 15 business days after the unlawful or unauthorized access, use, or disclosure has been detected by the clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice. Notice may be provided by email only if the patient has previously agreed in writing to electronic notice by email.
(c) (1) A clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice shall delay the reporting, as required pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), of any unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information beyond 15 business days if a law enforcement agency or official provides the clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice with a written or oral statement that compliance with the reporting requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) would likely impede the law enforcement agency’s investigation that relates to the unlawful or unauthorized access to, and use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information and specifies a date upon which the delay shall end, not to exceed 60 days after a written request is made, or 30 days after an oral request is made. A law enforcement agency or official may request an extension of a delay based upon a written declaration that there exists a bona fide, ongoing, significant criminal investigation of serious wrongdoing relating to the unlawful or unauthorized access to, and use or disclosure of, a patient’s medical information, that notification of patients will undermine the law enforcement agency’s investigation, and that specifies a date upon which the delay shall end, not to exceed 60 days after the end of the original delay period.
(2) If the statement of the law enforcement agency or official is made orally, then the clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice shall do both of the following:
(A) Document the oral statement, including, but not limited to, the identity of the law enforcement agency or official making the oral statement and the date upon which the oral statement was made.
(B) Limit the delay in reporting the unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, the patient’s medical information to the date specified in the oral statement, not to exceed 30 calendar days from the date that the oral statement is made, unless a written statement that complies with the requirements of this subdivision is received during that time.
(3) A clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice shall submit a report that is delayed pursuant to this subdivision not later than 15 business days after the date designated as the end of the delay.
(d) If a clinic, health facility, home health agency, or hospice to which subdivision (a) applies violates subdivision (b), the department may assess the licensee a penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day that the unlawful or unauthorized access, use, or disclosure is not reported to the department or the affected patient, following the initial 15-day period specified in subdivision (b). However, the total combined penalty assessed by the department under subdivision (a) and this subdivision shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per reported event. For enforcement purposes, it shall be presumed that the facility did not notify the affected patient if the notification was not documented. This presumption may be rebutted by a licensee only if the licensee demonstrates, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the notification was made.
(e) In enforcing subdivisions (a) and (d), the department shall take into consideration the special circumstances of small and rural hospitals, as defined in Section 124840, and primary care clinics, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1204, in order to protect access to quality care in those hospitals and clinics. When assessing a penalty on a skilled nursing facility or other facility subject to Section 1423, 1424, 1424.1, or 1424.5, the department shall issue only the higher of either a penalty for the violation of this section or a penalty for violation of Section 1423, 1424, 1424.1, or 1424.5, not both.
(f) All penalties collected by the department pursuant to this section, Sections 1280.1, 1280.3, and 1280.4, and 1280.19, shall be deposited into the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account, which is hereby created within the Special Deposit Fund under Section 16370 of the Government Code. established in the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, all interest earned on the moneys deposited into the account shall be retained in the account. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the account shall be expended for internal quality improvement activities in the Licensing and Certification Program.
(g) If the licensee disputes a determination by the department regarding a failure to prevent or failure to timely report unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, patients’ medical information, or the imposition of a penalty under this section, the licensee may, within 10 days of receipt of the penalty assessment, request a hearing pursuant to Section 131071. Penalties shall be paid when appeals have been exhausted and the penalty has been upheld.
(h) In lieu of disputing the determination of the department regarding a failure to prevent or failure to timely report unlawful or unauthorized access to, or use or disclosure of, patients’ medical information, transmit to the department 75 percent of the total amount of the administrative penalty, for each violation, within 30 business days of receipt of the administrative penalty.
(i) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Reported event” means all breaches included in any single report that is made pursuant to subdivision (b), regardless of the number of breach events contained in the report.
(2) “Unauthorized” means the inappropriate access, review, or viewing of patient medical information without a direct need for medical diagnosis, treatment, or other lawful use as permitted by the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code) or any other statute or regulation governing the lawful access, use, or disclosure of medical information.
(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller may use the funds in the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account for cash flow loans to the General Fund as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.
SEC. 5.
Section 1280.19 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1280.19.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Controller may use the funds in the Internal Departmental Quality Improvement Account for cash flow loans to the General Fund as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381 of the Government Code.
SEC. 6.
Section 1342.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1342.2.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a health care service plan contract that covers medical, surgical, and hospital benefits, excluding a specialized health care service plan contract, shall cover the costs for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing and health care services related to diagnostic and screening testing approved or granted emergency use authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19, regardless of whether the services are provided by an in-network or out-of-network provider. Coverage required by this section shall not be subject to copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or any other form of cost sharing. Services related to COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing include, but are not limited to, hospital or health care provider office visits for the purposes of receiving testing, products related to testing, the administration of testing, and items and services furnished to an enrollee as part of testing. Services related to COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing do not include bonus payments for the use of specialized equipment or expedited processing.(1) To the extent a health care provider would have been entitled to receive cost sharing but for this section, the health care service plan shall reimburse the health care provider the amount of that lost cost sharing.
(2) A health care service plan contract shall not impose prior authorization or any other utilization management requirements on COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing.
(3) With respect to an enrollee, a health care service plan shall reimburse the provider of the testing according to either of the following:
(A) If the health plan has a specifically negotiated rate for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing with such provider in effect before the public health emergency declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 247d), such negotiated rate shall apply throughout the period of such declaration.
(B) If the health plan does not have a specifically negotiated rate for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing with such provider, the plan may negotiate a rate with such provider.
(4) For an out-of-network provider with whom a health care service plan does not have a specifically negotiated rate for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing and health care services related to testing, a plan shall reimburse the provider for all testing items or services in an amount that is reasonable, as determined in comparison to prevailing market rates for testing items or services in the geographic region where the item or service is rendered. An out-of-network provider shall accept this payment as payment in full, shall not seek additional remuneration from an enrollee for services related to testing, and shall not report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency or commence civil action against the enrollee.
(5) Beginning six months after the federal public health emergency expires, a health care service plan shall no longer be required to cover the cost sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing and health care services related to testing when delivered by an out-of-network provider, except as otherwise required by law. All other requirements of this subdivision shall remain in effect after the federal public health emergency expires.
(6) Changes to a contract between a health care service plan and a provider delegating financial risk for diagnostic and screening testing related to a declared public health emergency shall be considered a material change to the parties’ contract. A health care service plan shall not delegate the financial risk to a contracted provider for the cost of enrollee services provided under this section unless the parties have negotiated and agreed upon a new provision of the parties’ contract pursuant to Section 1375.7.
(b) (1) A health care service plan contract that covers medical, surgical, and hospital benefits shall cover without cost sharing any item, service, or immunization that is intended to prevent or mitigate COVID-19 and that is either of the following with respect to the individual enrollee:
(A) An evidence-based item or service that has in effect a rating of “A” or “B” in the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
(B) An immunization that has in effect a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regardless of whether the immunization is recommended for routine use.
(2) The item, service, or immunization covered pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be covered no later than 15 business days after the date on which the United States Preventive Services Task Force or the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes a recommendation relating to the item, service, or immunization. A recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considered in effect after it has been adopted, or granted emergency use authorization, by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(3) (A) A health care service plan subject to this subdivision shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements, including a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible, for any item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1), regardless of whether such service is delivered by an in-network or out-of-network provider.
(B) To the extent a health care provider would have been entitled to receive cost sharing but for this section, the health care service plan shall reimburse the health care provider the amount of that lost cost sharing.
(C) With respect to an enrollee, a health care service plan shall reimburse the provider of the immunization according to either of the following:
(i) If the health plan has a negotiated rate with such provider in effect before the public health emergency declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 247d), such negotiated rate shall apply throughout the period of such declaration.
(ii) If the health plan does not have a negotiated rate with such provider, the plan may negotiate a rate with such provider.
(D) A health care service plan shall not impose cost sharing for any items or services that are necessary for the furnishing of an item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1), including, but not limited to, provider office visits and vaccine administration, regardless of whether the service is delivered by an in-network or out-of-network provider.
(E) (i) For an out-of-network provider with whom a health care service plan does not have a negotiated rate for an item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1), a health care service plan shall reimburse the provider for all related items or services, including any items or services that are necessary for the furnishing of an item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1), in an amount that is reasonable, as determined in comparison to prevailing market rates for such items or services in the geographic region in which the item or service is rendered. An out-of-network provider shall accept this payment as payment in full, shall not seek additional remuneration from an enrollee, and shall not report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency or commence civil action against the enrollee for items, services, and immunizations described in subdivision (b), including any items or services that are necessary for the furnishing of an item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1).
(ii) Beginning six months after the federal public health emergency expires, a health care service plan shall no longer be required to cover the cost sharing for any item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1) and to cover items or services that are necessary for the furnishing of the items, services, or immunizations described in paragraph (1) when delivered by an out-of-network provider, except as otherwise required by law. All other requirements of this section shall remain in effect after the federal public health emergency expires.
(4) A health care service plan subject to this subdivision shall not impose prior authorization or any other utilization management requirements on any item, service, or immunization described in paragraph (1) or to items or services that are necessary for the furnishing of the items, services, or immunizations described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3).
(5) Changes to a contract between a health care service plan and a provider delegating financial risk for immunization related to a declared public health emergency, shall be considered a material change to the parties’ contract. A health plan shall not delegate the financial risk to a contracted provider for the cost of enrollee services provided under this section unless the parties have negotiated and agreed upon a new provision of the parties’ contract pursuant to Section 1375.7.
(c) The director may issue guidance to health care service plans regarding compliance with this section. This guidance shall not be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The department shall consult with the Department of Insurance in issuing the guidance specified in this subdivision.
(d) This section, excluding subdivision (h), shall apply retroactively beginning from the Governor’s declared State of Emergency related to the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic on March 4, 2020. Notwithstanding Section 1390, this subdivision does not create criminal liability for transactions that occurred before January 1, 2022.
(e) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Diagnostic testing” means all of the following:
(A) Testing intended to identify current or past infection and performed when a person has signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or when a person is asymptomatic but has recent known or suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
(B) Testing a person with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
(C) Testing a person as a result of contact tracing efforts.
(D) Testing a person who indicates that they were exposed to someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.
(E) Testing a person after an individualized clinical assessment by a licensed health care provider.
(2) “Screening testing” means tests that are intended to identify people with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic and do not have known, suspected, or reported exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Screening testing helps to identify unknown cases so that measures can be taken to prevent further transmission. Screening testing includes all of the following:
(A) Workers in a workplace setting.
(B) Students, faculty, and staff in a school setting.
(C) A person before or after travel.
(D) At home for someone who does not have symptoms associated with COVID-19 and does not have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19.
(f) This section does not relieve a health care service plan from continuing to cover testing as required by federal law and guidance.
(g) The department shall hold health care service plans accountable for timely access to services required under this section and coverage requirements established under federal law, regulations, or guidelines.
(h) (1) This subdivision applies to a health care service plan contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after the operative date of this subdivision that covers medical, surgical, and hospital benefits, excluding a specialized health care service plan contract, with respect to therapeutics for COVID-19 covered under the contract, which shall include therapeutics approved or granted emergency use authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration for treatment of COVID-19 when prescribed or furnished by a licensed health care provider acting within their scope of practice and the standard of care.
(2) A health care service plan shall reimburse a provider for the therapeutics described in paragraph (1) at the specifically negotiated rate for those therapeutics, if the plan and provider have negotiated a rate. If the plan does not have a negotiated rate with a provider, the plan may negotiate a rate with the provider.
(3) For an out-of-network provider with whom a health care service plan does not have a negotiated rate for the therapeutics described in paragraph (1), a health care service plan shall reimburse the provider for the therapeutics in an amount that is reasonable, as determined in comparison to prevailing market rates for the therapeutics in the geographic region in which the therapeutic was delivered. An out-of-network provider shall accept this payment as payment in full, shall not seek additional remuneration from an enrollee, and shall not report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency or commence civil action against the enrollee for therapeutics described in this subdivision.
(4) A health care service plan shall cover COVID-19 therapeutics without cost sharing, regardless of whether the therapeutics are provided by an in-network or out-of-network provider, and without utilization management. If a provider would have been entitled to receive cost sharing but for this section, the health care service plan shall reimburse the provider for the amount of that lost cost sharing. A provider shall accept this payment as payment in full, shall not seek additional remuneration from an enrollee, and shall not report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency or commence civil action against the enrollee for therapeutics pursuant to this subdivision.
(5) Beginning six months after the federal public health emergency expires, a health care service plan shall no longer be required to cover the cost sharing for COVID-19 therapeutics delivered by an out-of-network provider, unless otherwise required by law. All other requirements of this subdivision shall remain in effect after the federal public health emergency expires.
(6) For purposes of this section, “health care service plan” includes This section does not apply to a Medi-Cal managed care plan that contracts with the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The State Department of Health Care Services shall seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to implement this section. This section applies to a Medi-Cal managed care plan contract only to the extent that the State Department of Health Care Services obtains any necessary federal approvals, and federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program is available and not otherwise jeopardized.
SEC. 7.
Section 1356.3 is added to the Health and Safety Code, immediately following Section 1356.2, to read:1356.3.
(a) For the 2025–26 to 2026–27 fiscal years, inclusive, a health care service plan licensed by the department shall be assessed an annual fee in an amount determined by the department, in consultation with the Department of Health Care Access and Information. The annual fee shall be limited to the amount necessary to fund the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the department to implement Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 1385.001) and the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the Department of Health Care Access and Information pertaining to data reporting by pharmacy benefit managers, including that portion of the Health Care Payments Data Program established by Section 127671.1 that concerns pharmacy benefit managers.(b) The fees received pursuant to this section shall be transferred from the Managed Care Fund to the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund established by Section 1385.0017 and disbursed pursuant to that section, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
SEC. 8.
Section 1374.55 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1374.55.
(a) (1) A large group health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract, that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after(2) A small group health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract, that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, January 1, 2026, shall offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services. This paragraph shall not be construed to require a small group health care service plan contract to provide coverage for infertility services.
(3) A health care service plan shall include notice of the coverage specified in this section in the plan’s evidence of coverage.
(b) For purposes of this section, “infertility” means a condition or status characterized by any of the following:
(1) A licensed physician’s findings, based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors. This definition shall not prevent testing and diagnosis of infertility before the 12-month or 6-month period to establish infertility in paragraph (3).
(2) A person’s inability to reproduce either as an individual or with their partner without medical intervention.
(3) The failure to establish a pregnancy or to carry a pregnancy to live birth after regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. For purposes of this section, “regular, unprotected sexual intercourse” means no more than 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse for a person under 35 years of age or no more than 6 months of unprotected sexual intercourse for a person 35 years of age or older. Pregnancy resulting in miscarriage does not restart the 12-month or 6-month time period to qualify as having infertility.
(c) The contract may not include any of the following:
(1) Any exclusion, limitation, or other restriction on coverage of fertility medications that are different from those imposed on other prescription medications.
(2) Any exclusion or denial of coverage of any fertility services based on a covered individual’s participation in fertility services provided by or to a third party. For purposes of this section, “third party” includes an oocyte, sperm, or embryo donor, gestational carrier, or surrogate that enables an intended recipient to become a parent.
(3) Any deductible, copayment, coinsurance, benefit maximum, waiting period, or any other limitation on coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, except as provided in subdivision (a) that are different from those imposed upon benefits for services not related to infertility.
(d) This section does not in any way deny or restrict any existing right or benefit to coverage and treatment of infertility or fertility services under an existing law, plan, or policy.
(e) Consistent with Section 1365.5, coverage for the treatment of infertility and fertility services shall be provided without discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, domestic partner status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. This subdivision shall not be construed to interfere with the clinical judgment of a physician and surgeon.
(f) This section does not apply to Medi-Cal managed care health care service plan contracts or any entity that enters into a contract with the State Department of Health Care Services for the delivery of health care services pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), Chapter 8.75 (commencing with Section 14591), or Chapter 8.9 (commencing with Section 14700) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(g) This section shall not apply to a religious employer, as defined in Section 1367.25.
(h) This section shall not apply to a health care benefit plan or contract entered into with the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System pursuant to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (Part 5 (commencing with Section 22750) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code) until July 1, 2027.
(i) (1) Until January 1, 2027, the director may issue guidance regarding compliance with this section, and that guidance shall not be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(2) The department shall consult with the Department of Insurance and stakeholders in issuing the guidance specified in paragraph (1).
SEC. 9.
The heading of Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 1385.001) of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: Article 6.1. Pharmacy Benefit Management Services Managers
SEC. 10.
Section 1385.001 of the Health and Safety Code is repealed.For the purposes of this article, “pharmacy benefit manager” means a person, business, or other entity that, pursuant to a contract with a health care service plan, manages the prescription drug coverage provided by the health care service plan, including, but not limited to, the processing and payment of claims for prescription drugs, the performance of drug utilization review, the processing of drug prior authorization requests, the adjudication of appeals or grievances related to prescription drug coverage, contracting with network pharmacies, and controlling the cost of covered prescription drugs. This definition shall not include a health care service plan licensed under this chapter or any individual employee of a health care service plan or its contracted provider, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 1345, performing the services described in this section.
SEC. 11.
Section 1385.001 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.001.
For the purposes of this article:(a) “Department” means the Department of Managed Health Care.
(b) “Director” means the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care.
(c) “Drug” has the same meaning as defined in Section 4025 of the Business and Professions Code.
(d) “Health insurer” means an entity licensed to provide health insurance, as defined in Section 106 of the Insurance Code.
(e) “Manufacturer” has the same meaning as defined in Section 4033 of the Business and Professions Code.
(f) “Payer” means a health care service plan licensed by the department or a health insurer licensed by the Department of Insurance.
(g) “Pharmacist” has the same meaning as defined in Section 4036 of the Business and Professions Code.
(h) “Pharmacy” has the same meaning as defined in Section 4037 of the Business and Professions Code.
(i) (1) “Pharmacy benefit manager” means a person, business, or other entity that, either directly or through an intermediary, affiliate, or both, acts as a price negotiator or group purchaser on behalf of a payer, or manages the prescription drug coverage provided by the payer, including, but not limited to, the processing and payment of claims for prescription drugs, the performance of drug utilization review, the processing of drug prior authorization requests, the adjudication of appeals or grievances related to prescription drug coverage, contracting with network pharmacies, or controlling the cost of covered prescription drugs.
(2) “Pharmacy benefit manager” includes an entity performing the duties specified in paragraph (1) that is under common ownership with, or control by, a payer.
(3) “Pharmacy benefit manager” does not include any of the following:
(A) An entity providing services pursuant to a contract authorized by Section 4600.2 of the Labor Code.
(B) A fully self-insured employee welfare benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-406), as amended (29 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq.).
(C) A health care service plan licensed pursuant to this chapter or an individual employee of a health care service plan.
(D) A health insurer licensed to provide health insurance, as defined in Section 106 of the Insurance Code, or an individual employee of a health insurer.
(E) A city or county that develops or manages drug coverage programs for uninsured patients for which no reimbursement is received.
(F) An entity exclusively providing services to patients covered by Part 418 (commencing with Section 418.1) of Subchapter B of Chapter IV of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(G) The State Department of Health Care Services, including any contracts between the State Department of Health Care Services and another entity related to the negotiation and collection of drug or medical supply rebates.
(j) “Plan participant” means an individual who is enrolled in health care coverage provided by a payer.
SEC. 12.
Section 1385.002 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:(a)Except as specified in Section 1385.007, the requirements of this article shall become operative on January 1, 2020.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the
1385.002.
(a) The department has the authority to enforce the provisions of this article, including the authority to adopt, amend, or repeal any rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of this state, as may be necessary for the protection of the public and to implement this article, including, but not limited to, the director’s enforcement authority under this chapter.(c)
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this article by means of all-plan letters or similar instructions to plans and pharmacy benefit managers, without taking regulatory action, until such time as regulations are adopted.
(d)The
(c) Until June 30, 2028, for purposes of implementing this article, the department may contract with a consultant or consultants with expertise in this subject area to assist the department in developing guidance or instructions described in subdivision (c), or the report required pursuant to Section 1385.007. consultants, including information technology consultants and vendors, with relevant expertise to assist the department with implementing this article. The department’s contract with a consultant shall include conflict-of-interest provisions to prohibit a person from participating in any report in which the person knows or has reason to know he or she the person has a material financial interest, including, but not limited to, a person who has a consulting or other agreement with a person or organization that would be affected by the results of the report.
(e)
(d) Contracts entered into pursuant to the authority in this article section shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, and Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.
SEC. 13.
Section 1385.004 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1385.004.
(a) A health care service plan that contracts with a pharmacy benefit manager for management of any or all of its prescription drug coverage shall require the pharmacy benefit manager to do all of the following:(1) Comply with the provisions of Section 1385.003.
(2) Register with the department pursuant to the requirements of this article. article, or, if licensure of the pharmacy benefit manager is required pursuant to this article, obtain a license and keep it in good standing with the department.
(3) Exercise good faith and fair dealing in the performance of its contractual duties to a health care service plan.
(4) Comply with the requirements of Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 4430) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, as applicable.
(5) Inform all pharmacists under contract with or subject to contracts with the pharmacy benefit manager of the pharmacist’s rights to submit complaints to the department under Section 1371.39 and of the pharmacist’s rights as a provider under Section 1375.7.
(b) Contracts issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, between a health care service plan and a pharmacy benefit manager shall require the pharmacy benefit manager to submit to the Department of Health Care Access and Information all information required to be reported pursuant to Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 127671) of Part 2 of Division 107.
(b)
(c) A pharmacy benefit manager shall notify a health care service plan in writing of any activity, policy, or practice of the pharmacy benefit manager that directly or indirectly presents a conflict of interest that interferes with the discharge of the pharmacy benefit manager’s duty to the health care service plan to exercise good faith and fair dealing in the performance of its contractual duties pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 14.
Section 1385.005 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1385.005.
(a) A pharmacy benefit manager required to register with the department pursuant to Section 1385.004 shall complete an application for registration with the department that shall include, but not be limited to, all of the information required by subdivision (c).(b) A pharmacy benefit manager registration obtained pursuant to this section is not transferable.
(c) The department shall develop an application form for pharmacy benefit manager registration. The application form for a pharmacy benefit manager registration shall require the pharmacy benefit manager to submit the following information to the department:
(1) The name of the pharmacy benefit manager.
(2) The address and contact telephone number for the pharmacy benefit manager.
(3) The name and address of the pharmacy benefit manager’s agent for service of process in the state.
(4) The name and address of each person beneficially interested in the pharmacy benefit manager.
(5) The name and address of each person with management or control over the pharmacy benefit manager.
(d) If the applicant is a partnership or other unincorporated association, a limited liability company, or a corporation, and the number of partners, members, or stockholders, as the case may be, exceeds five, the application shall so state, and shall further state the name, address, usual occupation, and professional qualifications of each of the five partners, members, or stockholders who own the five largest interests in the applicant entity. Upon request by the department, the applicant shall furnish the department with the name, address, usual occupation, and professional qualifications of partners, members, or stockholders not named in the application, or shall refer the department to an appropriate source for that information.
(e) The application shall contain a statement to the effect that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony and has not violated any of the provisions of this article. If the applicant cannot make this statement, the application shall contain a statement of the violation, if any, or shall describe the reasons that prevent the applicant from being able to comply with the requirements with respect to the statement.
(f) The department may set a fee for a registration required by this article. The application fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs of the department in carrying out its duties under this article.
(g) Within 30 days of a change in any of the information disclosed to the department on an application for a registration, the pharmacy benefit manager shall notify the department of that change in writing.
(h) For purposes of this section, “person beneficially interested” with respect to a pharmacy benefit manager means and includes the following:
(1) If the applicant is a partnership or other unincorporated association, each partner or member.
(2) If the applicant is a corporation, each of its officers, directors, and stockholders, provided that a natural person shall not be deemed to be beneficially interested in a nonprofit corporation.
(3) If the applicant is a limited liability company, each officer, manager, or member.
(i) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2027, or the date on which the department has established the licensure process pursuant to Section 1385.009, whichever is later and, as of the following January 1 is repealed.
SEC. 15.
Section 1385.006 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1385.006.
The failure by a health care service plan to comply with the contractual requirements and to maintain appropriate oversight of a contracted pharmacy benefit manager to ensure the pharmacy benefit manager’s compliance pursuant to this article shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action. The director shall, as appropriate, investigate and take enforcement action against a health care service plan that fails to comply with these requirements and shall periodically evaluate contracts between health care service plans and pharmacy benefit managers to determine if any audit, evaluation, or enforcement actions should be undertaken by the department.SEC. 16.
Section 1385.008 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.008.
On or after January 1, 2027, or the date on which the department has established the licensure process pursuant to Section 1385.009, whichever is later, a person shall not engage in business as a pharmacy benefit manager for a payer in this state unless that person has first secured a license from the director. A license issued pursuant to this article is not transferable without the express and specific permission of the director.SEC. 17.
Section 1385.009 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.009.
An application for licensure as a pharmacy benefit manager under this article shall be verified by an authorized representative of the applicant and shall be in a form prescribed by the department. To the extent applicable, the department may direct licensure applicants to use the forms and processes available to and required of health care service plan licensure applicants and licensees created pursuant to this chapter and its implementing regulations, including Section 1351 and the forms and exhibits described in regulations, as amended, implementing that section. The application for licensure as a pharmacy benefit manager shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed by Section 1385.0016 and shall set forth or be accompanied by all of the following:(a) The basic organizational documents of the applicant, such as the articles of incorporation, articles of association, partnership agreement, trust agreement, or other applicable documents, and all amendments to those documents.
(b) A copy of the bylaws, rules and regulations, or similar documents regulating the conduct of the internal affairs of the applicant.
(c) A list of the names, addresses, and official positions of the persons who are to be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the applicant, including all members of the board of directors, board of trustees, executive committee, or other governing board or committee, the principal officers, each shareholder with more than 5 percent interest in the case of a corporation, all partners or members in the case of a partnership or association, and each person who has loaned funds to the applicant for the operation of its business.
(d) A statement of whether, within the preceding 10 years, the applicant, its management company, an affiliate of the applicant, a controlling person, officer, director, or other person occupying a principal management or supervisory position in the pharmacy benefit manager, management company, or affiliate, or a person intended to hold that relationship or position, has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a felony, been held to have committed an act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit in a judicial or administrative proceeding to which the person was a party, or has had a license or certificate to operate as a pharmacy benefit manager denied or revoked in another jurisdiction.
(e) For an applicant not domiciled in this state, a power of attorney duly executed appointing the director the true and lawful attorney in fact of the applicant for the purposes of service of all lawful process in a legal action or proceeding against the pharmacy benefit manager on a cause of action arising in this state.
(f) Financial statements accompanied by a report, certificate, or opinion of an independent certified public accountant that demonstrates the financial viability of the applicant. Submission of financial statements may, at the direction of the department, be completed using the same forms and processes as required for health care service plans licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(g) An affirmation that the applicant’s business practices and contracts comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter, including the requirements of pharmacy benefit manager contracts and business practices set forth in this article.
(h) An affirmation that the applicant shall comply with all requirements for reporting data to the Department of Health Care Access and Information in accordance with this article and Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 127671) of Part 2 of Division 107.
(i) A description of the business operations of the applicant, including descriptions of its services, facilities, and personnel.
(j) A list of all jurisdictions in which the applicant operates as a pharmacy benefit manager, including those in which the applicant holds a license, registration, or certification as a pharmacy benefit manager.
(k) The applicant’s organization chart or charts that show the lines of responsibility and authority in the administration of the applicant’s business as a pharmacy benefit manager. The applicant shall include a narrative explanation of the organization chart, including the responsibility and authority of each entity, board, committee, and position, and identify the persons who serve on the boards and committees and in those positions.
(l) A list of all pharmaceutical supply chain entities, including drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors, that are contracted or affiliated with the applicant.
(m) A list of all health care providers, including pharmacies and pharmacists, that are contracted or affiliated with the applicant.
(n) A list of each payer with which the applicant is affiliated or has a contract for the provision of pharmacy benefit manager services, including a description of all services provided and the number of individual enrollees covered under the contract or contracts with each payer.
(o) A statement describing how the applicant shall provide for separation of medical and clinical decisionmaking from fiscal and administrative management to ensure that medical and clinical decisions shall not be unduly influenced by fiscal and administrative management, including a description of what controls will be put into place to assure compliance with this requirement.
SEC. 18.
Section 1385.0010 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0010.
In addition to the requirements of Section 1385.009, and upon request of the director, an application shall be accompanied by authorization for disclosure to the director of financial records of each pharmacy benefit manager licensed under this chapter, pursuant to Section 7473 of the Government Code. For purposes of this chapter, the authorization for disclosure shall also include the financial records of an association, partnership, or corporation controlling, controlled by, or otherwise affiliated with the pharmacy benefit manager.SEC. 19.
Section 1385.0011 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0011.
(a) A pharmacy benefit manager shall submit to the department financial statements prepared as of the close of its fiscal year within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year. These financial statements shall be accompanied by a report, certificate, or opinion of an independent certified public accountant or independent public accountant. An audit shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the rules and regulations of the director.(b) Within 45 days after the close of each quarter of its fiscal year, a pharmacy benefit manager shall submit its quarterly unaudited financial statement, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and consisting of at least a balance sheet, statement of income, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in equity, and notes to financial statements as of the date and for the period specified by the director. The director may require the submission of these reports on a monthly or other periodic basis.
(c) A pharmacy benefit manager shall make special reports to the director as the director may require.
(d) For good cause and upon written request, the director may extend the time for compliance with subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.
(e) If the report, certificate, or opinion of the independent accountant required pursuant to subdivision (a) is qualified, the director may require the pharmacy benefit manager to take action that the director deems appropriate to permit an independent accountant to remove the qualification from the report, certificate, or opinion.
(f) The director may reject a financial statement, report, certificate, or opinion filed pursuant to this section by notifying the pharmacy benefit manager of the rejection and its cause. Within 30 days after the receipt of the notice, the pharmacy benefit manager shall correct the deficiency, and the failure so to do shall be deemed a violation of this chapter. The director shall retain a copy of all rejected filings.
(g) The director may make rules and regulations specifying the form and content of the reports and financial statements required by this section, and may require that these reports and financial statements be verified by the pharmacy benefit manager in a manner as the director may prescribe. Revenue reported by pharmacy benefit managers shall include revenue from manufacturers, payers, and other sources, including from affiliates. Types of revenue reported shall be inclusive of rebates of any type or form. Expenses reported by pharmacy benefit managers shall include payments to pharmacies, claims processing, special programs, administrative costs, and all other expenses. The director may require the reporting of any additional revenue, expenses, or related information that the department requires to assist in determining the overall impact of pharmacy benefit manager business practices on the cost of drugs in this state.
(h) To the extent applicable, the department may direct licensure applicants to use the forms and processes available to and required of health care service plans and other entities reporting financial data created pursuant to this chapter and their implementing regulations, including Section 1384 and the forms and exhibits described in regulations, as amended, implementing that section.
(i) Financial and other records produced, disclosed, or otherwise made available by an organization pursuant to this section shall be received and maintained on a confidential basis and protected from public disclosure.
SEC. 20.
Section 1385.0012 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0012.
(a) A pharmacy benefit manager licensed pursuant to this article shall submit to the Department of Health Care Access and Information all information required to be reported pursuant to Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 127671) of Part 2 of Division 107.(b) The obligation of a pharmacy benefit manager to comply with this section shall not be waived if the pharmacy benefit manager delegates any of its services or business operations to another entity via a contractual relationship or otherwise.
(c) Failure by a pharmacy benefit manager to timely or completely submit required reporting to the Department of Health Care Access and Information shall be grounds for enforcement action by the department pursuant to this chapter.
SEC. 21.
Section 1385.0013 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0013.
(a) (1) A licensed pharmacy benefit manager shall, within 30 days after a change in the information contained in its application, other than financial or statistical information, file an amendment to the application in the manner prescribed by rule by the director.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if an association, partnership, or corporation is added in a controlling, controlled, or affiliated status relative to the pharmacy benefit manager, the pharmacy benefit manager shall file within 30 days an authorization for disclosure to the director of financial records of the person pursuant to Section 7473 of the Government Code.
(b) Before a material modification of its operations, a pharmacy benefit manager shall give notice of the change to the director, who shall approve, disapprove, suspend, or postpone the effectiveness of the change by order, within 20 business days or within additional time specified by the pharmacy benefit manager, subject to Section 1385.0014.
(c) A pharmacy benefit manager shall, within five days, give written notice to the director, in the form prescribed by rule by the director, of a change in the officers, directors, partners, controlling shareholders, principal creditors, or persons occupying similar positions or performing similar functions, of the pharmacy benefit manager, any parent company of the pharmacy benefit manager, or a management company of the pharmacy benefit manager or its parent company. The director may define by rule the positions, duties, and relationships that shall be reported pursuant to this subdivision.
(d) The fee for filing a notice of material modification pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be the actual cost to the director of processing the notice, including overhead, but shall not exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750).
(e) Rules and regulations promulgated and amended by the department pursuant to this chapter relating to health care service plan license amendments and material modifications, including those promulgated to implement and make specific Section 1352, shall, to the extent applicable, apply to pharmacy benefit managers licensed pursuant to this article.
SEC. 22.
Section 1385.0014 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0014.
Upon denial of an application for licensure, or the issuance of an order pursuant to Section 1385.0013 disapproving, suspending, or postponing a material modification, the director shall notify the applicant in writing, stating the reason for the denial and that the applicant has the right to a hearing if the applicant makes a written request within 30 days after the date of mailing of the notice of denial. Service of the notice required by this section may be made by certified mail addressed to the applicant at the latest address filed by the applicant in writing with the department.SEC. 23.
Section 1385.0015 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0015.
A pharmacy benefit manager license issued under this article shall remain in effect until revoked or suspended by the director.SEC. 24.
Section 1385.0016 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0016.
(a) A pharmacy benefit manager applying for licensure under this article shall reimburse the director for the actual cost of processing the application, including overhead, up to an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The cost shall be billed not more frequently than monthly and shall be remitted by the applicant to the director within 30 days of the date of billing. The director shall not issue a license to an applicant before receiving payment in full from that applicant for all amounts charged pursuant to this subdivision.(b) (1) In addition to other fees, fines, penalties, and reimbursements required to be paid under this article, a licensed pharmacy benefit manager shall pay to the director an amount estimated by the director, in consultation with the Department of Health Care Access and Information, to be necessary to fund the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the department to implement this article and the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the Department of Health Care Access and Information pertaining to data reporting by pharmacy benefit managers, including for any portion of the Health Care Payments Data Program established by Section 127671.1 that is necessary to implement the provisions of this article, for the ensuing fiscal year. The amount may be paid in two equal installments. The first installment shall be paid on or before August 1 of each year, and the second installment shall be paid on or before December 15 of each year.
(2) The total assessment cost for all licensed pharmacy benefit managers determined by the director pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be divided pro rata among licensees based upon each licensee’s share of the aggregate number of claims adjudicated in this state by licensed pharmacy benefit managers. The aggregate number of claims adjudicated in this state and each licensee’s share of that number shall be calculated based on the report that licensees are required to submit pursuant to paragraph (3).
(3) A licensed pharmacy benefit manager shall, by January 31 of each year, file with the director a report stating the total number of claims it adjudicated for drugs in this state for the preceding calendar year. For purposes of this paragraph, adjudicated claims are claims for reimbursement for drugs dispensed by a provider to a beneficiary under the drug benefit administered by the pharmacy benefit manager for which payment was authorized and made by the pharmacy benefit manager. Reports submitted shall be in the form and manner directed by the department. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may issue instructions on reporting without taking regulatory action.
(4) The amount paid by each pharmacy benefit manager shall be fixed by the director by notice to all licensed pharmacy benefit managers on or before June 15 of each year. A pharmacy benefit manager that is unable to report the number of adjudicated claims shall provide the director with an estimate of the number and the method used for determining the estimate. The director may, upon giving written notice to the pharmacy benefit manager, revise the estimate if the director determines that the method used for determining the estimate was not reasonable.
(5) In determining the amount assessed, the director shall consider all appropriations from the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund for the support of the administration of this article and other relevant reimbursements provided for in this chapter.
(6) A refund or reduction of the amount assessed shall not be provided if a miscalculated assessment is based on a pharmacy benefit manager’s overestimate of adjudicated claims.
SEC. 25.
Section 1385.0017 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0017.
(a) To support the department in the administration of this article and the effective regulation of pharmacy benefit managers under this chapter, and to support the Department of Health Care Access and Information as it pertains to data regarding pharmacy benefit managers and the cost of drugs in this state, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund, administered by the Department of Managed Health Care, is hereby established in the State Treasury.(b) All revenues of the department received pursuant to this article, including fees, fines, penalties, and reimbursements, except those collected pursuant to Section 1385.0018, shall be deposited in the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund and subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.
(c) The department may transfer any revenues deposited into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund to the Health Care Payments Data Fund, established pursuant to Section 127674, for use by the Department of Health Care Access and Information, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the administration of the Health Care Payments Data System.
(d) In any fiscal year, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund shall maintain not more than a prudent 5-percent reserve unless otherwise determined by the Department of Finance.
SEC. 26.
Section 1385.0018 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0018.
(a) The director may, after appropriate notice and opportunity for a hearing, by order suspend or revoke a license issued under this article to a pharmacy benefit manager or assess administrative penalties if the director determines that the licensee has committed an act or omission constituting grounds for disciplinary action.(b) All of the following acts or omissions constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the director:
(1) The pharmacy benefit manager is operating at variance with basic organizational documents as filed pursuant to Section 1385.009, or with its published plan, or in a manner contrary to that described in, and reasonably inferred from, the plan as contained in its application for licensure and annual report, or any modification thereof, unless amendments allowing the variation have been submitted to, and approved by, the director.
(2) The continued operation of the pharmacy benefit manager shall constitute a substantial risk to its subscribers and enrollees.
(3) The pharmacy benefit manager has violated, attempted to violate, or conspired to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisted in or abetted a violation or conspiracy to violate a provision of this chapter, a rule or regulation adopted by the director pursuant to this chapter, or an order issued by the director pursuant to this chapter.
(4) The pharmacy benefit manager has engaged in conduct that constitutes fraud, dishonest dealing, or unfair competition, as defined by Section 17200 of the Business and Professions Code.
(5) The pharmacy benefit manager has permitted, aided, or abetted a violation by an employee or contractor who is a holder of a certificate, license, permit, registration, or exemption issued pursuant to the Business and Professions Code or this code that would constitute grounds for discipline against the certificate, license, permit, registration, or exemption.
(6) The pharmacy benefit manager has permitted, aided, or abetted the commission of an illegal act.
(7) The pharmacy benefit manager, its management company, another affiliate of the pharmacy benefit manager, or a controlling person, officer, director, or other person occupying a principal management or supervisory position in the pharmacy benefit manager, management company, or affiliate, has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a crime, or committed an act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, which crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in business in accordance with this chapter. The director may revoke or deny a license hereunder irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.
(8) The pharmacy benefit manager has been subject to a final disciplinary action taken by this state, another state, an agency of the federal government, or another country for an act or omission that would constitute a violation of this chapter.
(9) The pharmacy benefit manager violated the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code).
(10) The pharmacy benefit manager violated Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 127671) of Part 2 of Division 107, including the data submission requirements of that chapter.
(c) The assessment of administrative penalties against a pharmacy benefit manager shall use the same factors described in subdivision (d) of Section 1386 for health care service plans.
(d) A pharmacy benefit manager shall be subject, if applicable, to all enforcement authority of the department set forth in Article 8 (commencing with Section 1390), and civil penalties for violation of the licensure requirement of Section 1385.009.
(e) Fines and administrative penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund established pursuant to Section 1385.0024. These fines and administrative penalties shall not be used to reduce the assessments imposed on pharmacy benefit managers pursuant to Section 1385.0016.
SEC. 27.
Section 1385.0019 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0019.
(a) A pharmacy benefit manager whose license has been revoked, or suspended for more than one year, may petition the director to reinstate the license as provided by Section 11522 of the Government Code. A petition shall not be considered if the petitioner is under criminal sentence for a violation of this chapter, or an offense that would constitute grounds for discipline or denial of licensure under this chapter, including any period of probation or parole.(b) The petition for restoration shall be in the form prescribed by the director. The director may condition the granting of the petition upon additional information and undertakings as the director requires to determine if the person, if restored, would engage in business in full compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted by the director pursuant to this chapter.
(c) The director may prescribe a fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for the filing of a petition for restoration pursuant to this section, which shall be the actual cost to the director of processing the petition. In addition, the director may condition the granting of a petition to a pharmacy benefit manager upon payment of the assessment due and unpaid pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1385.0016 as of December 15 in the preceding 12 calendar months and, if the pharmacy benefit manager’s suspension or revocation was in effect for more than 12 months, upon the filing of a new pharmacy benefit manager licensure application and the payment of the fee prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 1385.0016.
SEC. 28.
Section 1385.0020 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0020.
(a) Surrender of a pharmacy benefit manager license shall become effective 30 days after receipt of an application to surrender the license or within a shorter period of time as the director may determine to be in the public interest and not detrimental to the protection of subscribers, enrollees, or persons regulated under this chapter, unless a revocation or suspension proceeding is pending when the application is filed or a proceeding to revoke or suspend or to impose conditions upon the surrender is instituted within 30 days after the application is filed. If this proceeding is pending or instituted, surrender becomes effective at the time and upon the conditions as the director determines by order.(b) If the director finds that a pharmacy benefit manager is no longer in existence, has ceased to do business, has failed to initiate business activity as a licensee within six months after licensure, or cannot be located after reasonable search, the director may, by order, summarily revoke the license of the pharmacy benefit manager.
(c) The director may summarily suspend or revoke the license of a pharmacy benefit manager upon failure to pay a fee required by this chapter within 15 days after notice by the director that the fee is due and unpaid or failure to file an amendment or report required under this article within 15 days after notice by the director that the report is due.
SEC. 29.
Section 1385.0021 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0021.
(a) The director shall withhold from public inspection, pursuant to the applicable state or federal law, information received in connection with an application, including applications for interpretive opinions, submissions, or reports filed by a pharmacy benefit manager, if, in the opinion of the director, the public inspection of the information is not necessary for the purposes of the law under which the information was filed, and the information is reasonably shown to meet either of the following:(1) The information is proprietary or of a confidential business nature, including trade secrets, the information has been confidentially maintained by the business entity, and the release of the information would be damaging or prejudicial to the business concern.
(2) The information is such that the private or public interest is served by withholding the information.
(b) Requests for confidentiality of information shall be submitted to and processed by the department consistent with regulations adopted and amended pursuant to this chapter relating to the request for confidentiality of information.
SEC. 30.
Section 1385.0022 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0022.
A pharmacy benefit manager has a fiduciary duty to its payer client that includes a duty to be fair and truthful toward the payer, to act in the payer’s best interests, and to perform its duties with care, skill, prudence, and diligence. This section does not limit a payer’s obligations under applicable law with respect to the administration of health care coverage for plan participants.SEC. 31.
Section 1385.0023 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0023.
(a) The department may conduct periodic routine and nonroutine surveys of a pharmacy benefit manager. These surveys shall be conducted in accordance with Section 1380, as applicable.(b) The department may conduct periodic routine and nonroutine examinations of the fiscal and administrative affairs of a pharmacy benefit manager. These examinations shall be conducted in accordance with Section 1382, as applicable.
(c) A complaint made by an enrollee that includes potential violations by a pharmacy benefit manager of the terms of this article shall be considered by the department to be a complaint against the health care service plan.
SEC. 32.
Section 1385.0024 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0024.
(a) The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury.(b) On and after July 1, 2025, the fines and administrative penalties collected pursuant to Section 1385.0018 shall be deposited into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund.
(c) Fines and administrative penalties deposited into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund may be transferred into the Health Care Payments Data Fund, established pursuant to Section 127674, for use by the Department of Health Care Access and Information, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the administration of the Health Care Payments Data System.
(d) Fines and administrative penalties deposited into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund may be transferred, subject to the annual budget process, to the Health Care Services Plan Fines and Penalties Fund, established pursuant to Section 15893 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(e) Fines and administrative penalties deposited into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Administrative Fines and Penalties Fund shall not be used to reduce the assessments imposed on pharmacy benefit managers pursuant to Section 1385.0016.
SEC. 33.
Section 1385.0025 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.0025.
The provisions of this article are severable. If any provision of this article or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.SEC. 34.
Section 1385.026 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1385.026.
The Legislature finds and declares that Sections 19 and 29 of this act, which add Sections 1385.0011 and 1385.0021, respectively, to the Health and Safety Code, impose a limitation on the public’s right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:To balance the public’s right to access records with the need to protect proprietary information received from pharmacy benefit managers, it is necessary that the information be kept confidential.
SEC. 35.
Section 1417.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1417.2.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 1428, moneys collected as a result of state and federal civil penalties imposed under this chapter or federal law shall be deposited into(1) Relocation expenses incurred by the department, in the event of a facility closure.
(2) Maintenance of facility operation pending correction of deficiencies or closure, such as temporary management or receivership, in the event that the revenues of the facility are insufficient.
(3) Reimbursing residents for personal funds lost. In the event that the loss is a result of the actions of a long-term health care facility or its employees, the revenues of the facility shall first be used.
(4) The costs associated with informational meetings required under Section 1327.2.
(5) Support for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program established pursuant to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 9700) of Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code in an amount appropriated from the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account for this purpose in the annual Budget Act.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the balance in the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account shall not, at any time, exceed ten million dollars ($10,000,000).
(c) Moneys from the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account may also be used, notwithstanding Section 16370 of the Government Code, upon appropriation by the Legislature, in accordance with state and federal law for the improvement of quality of care and quality of life for long-term health care facilities residents pursuant to Section 1417.3.
(d) The department shall post on its internet website, and shall update on a quarterly basis, all of the following regarding the funds in the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account and the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account:
(1) The specific sources of funds deposited into the account.
(2) The amount of funds in the account that have not been allocated.
(3) A detailed description of how funds in the account have been allocated and expended, including, but not limited to, the names of persons or entities that received the funds, the amount of salaries paid to temporary managers, and a description of equipment purchased with the funds. However, the description shall not include the names of residents.
SEC. 36.
Section 1418.22 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1418.22.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is the public policy of this state to ensure the health and safety of highly vulnerable persons residing in skilled nursing facilities during power outages that may result from a public safety power shutoff, an emergency, a natural disaster, or other cause.(b) (1) A skilled nursing facility shall have an alternative source of power to protect resident health and safety for no fewer than 96 hours during any type of power outage.
(2) For purposes of this section, “alternative source of power” means a source of electricity that is not received through an electric utility but is generated or stored onsite, which may include, but is not limited to, emergency generators using fuel, large capacity batteries, and renewable electrical generation facilities.
(c) For purposes of this section, “resident health and safety” includes, but is not limited to, maintaining a safe temperature for residents, maintaining availability of life-saving equipment, and maintaining availability of oxygen-generating devices.
(d) A facility that uses a generator as its alternative source of power shall maintain sufficient fuel onsite to maintain generator operation for no less than 96 hours or make arrangements for fuel delivery for an emergency event. If fuel is to be delivered during an emergency event, the facility shall ensure that fuel will be available with no delays.
(e) A facility that uses batteries or a combination of batteries in tandem with a renewable electrical generation facility as its alternative source of power shall have sufficient storage or generation capacity to maintain operation for no fewer than 96 hours. A facility shall also make arrangements for delivery of a generator and fuel in the event power is not restored within 96 hours and the generation capacity of the renewable electrical generation facility is unable to provide sufficient power to comply with state requirements for long-term care facilities.
(f) (1) A facility shall comply with the requirements of this section by January 1, 2026. on or after January 1, 2026, commencing on the first day of the Medi-Cal skilled nursing facility rate year for which the State Department of Health Care Services publishes a written notice on its internet website that the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for the express purpose of providing an add-on to the Medi-Cal skilled nursing facility per diem rate for the projected Medi-Cal cost of complying with the requirements of this section, to the extent required by any of the following:
(A) The Medi-Cal Long-Term Care Reimbursement Act (Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 14126) of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code).
(B) The California Medicaid State Plan.
(C) Any other applicable state or federal law or regulation.
(2) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the State Department of Health Care Services may implement this subdivision by means of provider bulletins, policy letters, or other similar instructions, without taking regulatory action.
SEC. 37.
Section 120956 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:120956.
(a) The AIDS Drug Assistance Program Rebate Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury.(b) All rebates collected from drug manufacturers on drugs purchased through the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) implemented pursuant to this chapter and, notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, interest earned on these moneys shall be deposited in the fund exclusively to cover costs related to the purchase of drugs and services provided through ADAP and the HIV prevention programs as described in Sections 120972, 120972.1, and 120972.2 and services related to HIV prevention and care and treatment for individuals living with HIV provided through the programs funded by the Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex (TGI) Wellness and Equity Fund as described in Section 150900.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year to State Department of Public Health and available for expenditure for those purposes specified under this section.
SEC. 38.
Section 120960 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:120960.
(a) The department shall establish uniform standards of financial eligibility for the drugs under the program established under this chapter.(b) Nothing in the financial eligibility standards shall prohibit drugs to an otherwise eligible person whose modified adjusted gross income does not exceed 500 percent of the federal poverty level per year based on family size and household income. However, the director may authorize drugs for persons with incomes higher than 500 percent of the federal poverty level per year based on family size and household income if the estimated cost of those drugs in one year is expected to exceed 20 percent of the person’s modified adjusted gross income. Beginning January 1, 2025, or as soon as technically feasible thereafter, the financial eligibility standard in this section shall increase to 600 percent of the federal power poverty level per year based on family size and household income.
(c) A county public health department administering this program pursuant to an agreement with the director pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 120955 shall use no more than 5 percent of total payments that it collects pursuant to this section to cover any administrative costs related to eligibility determinations, reporting requirements, and the collection of payments.
(d) A county public health department administering this program pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 120955 shall provide all drugs added to the program pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 120955 within 60 days of the action of the director.
(e) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Family size” has the meaning given to that term in Section 36B(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall include same or opposite sex married couples, registered domestic partners, and any tax dependents, as defined by Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, of either spouse or registered domestic partner.
(2) “Federal poverty level” refers to the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of Section 9902(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(3) “Household income” means the sum of the applicant’s or recipient’s modified adjusted gross income, plus the modified adjusted gross income of the applicant’s or recipient’s spouse or registered domestic partner, and the modified adjusted gross incomes of all other individuals for whom the applicant or recipient, or the applicant’s or recipient’s spouse or registered domestic partner, is allowed a federal income tax deduction for the taxable year.
(4) “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” means Title 26 of the United States Code, including all amendments enacted to that code.
(5) “Modified adjusted gross income” has the meaning given to that term in Section 36B(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
SEC. 39.
Section 127672 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:127672.
(a) (1) The Department of Health Care Access and Information shall convene a Health Care Payments Data Program advisory committee, composed of health care stakeholders and experts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(A) Health care service plans, including specialized health care service plans.
(B) Insurers that have a certificate of authority from the Insurance Commissioner to provide health insurance, as defined in Section 106 of the Insurance Code.
(C) Suppliers, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1367.50.
(D) Providers, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 1367.50.
(E) Self-insured employers.
(F) Multiemployer self-insured plans that are responsible for paying for health care services provided to beneficiaries or the trust administrator for a multiemployer self-insured plan.
(G) Businesses that purchase health care coverage for their employees.
(H) Organized labor.
(I) Organizations representing consumers.
(J) Pharmacy benefit managers, as defined in Section 127673.05.
(2) The advisory committee shall consist of no fewer than nine 10 and no more than 11 12 persons.
(3) In addition to the members specified by paragraph (2), the director of the department, the director of the State Department of Health Care Services, and the executive director of the California Health Benefit Exchange, or their officially designated representatives, shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the advisory committee.
(4) Each appointed member shall serve a term of two years, except one-half of the initial appointments shall be for one year. Each appointed member shall serve at the discretion of the director and may be removed at any time.
(5) The chairperson of the advisory committee shall be an appointed member and shall be elected by a majority of the appointed members.
(6) The advisory committee shall meet at least quarterly or when requested by the director.
(7) The advisory committee shall assist and advise the director in formulating program policies regarding data collection, management, use, and access, and development of public information to meet the goals of the program. The advisory committee shall, through its meetings, provide a forum for stakeholder and public engagement. Upon request of the director, the advisory committee may assist and advise on the department’s other data programs.
(8) On or before July 1, 2024, the advisory committee shall make recommendations to the department on how existing state public health data functions may be integrated into the system. The advisory committee shall also recommend options for state public health data integration. These recommendations shall be published on the department’s internet website.
(9) The advisory committee shall not have decisionmaking authority related to the administration of the system and shall not have a financial interest, individually or through a family member, in the recommendations made to the department. The advisory committee shall hold public meetings with stakeholders, solicit input, and set its own meeting agendas. Meetings of the advisory committee are subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(10) The members of the advisory committee appointed from outside government shall serve without compensation, but shall receive a per diem for each day’s attendance at an advisory committee meeting. All members shall be reimbursed for any actual and necessary expenses incurred in connection with their duties as members of the committee.
(b) The department may convene other committees or workgroups as necessary to support effective operation of the system. These committees may be standing committees or time-limited workgroups, at the discretion of the director.
SEC. 40.
Section 127672.9 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:127672.9.
UntilSEC. 41.
Section 127673.05 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:127673.05.
(a) For purposes of this section, “pharmacy benefits manager” or “PBM” means an entity that is required to be licensed pursuant to Section 1385.008.(b) Notwithstanding any other state law, for the purpose of providing information for inclusion in the system, PBMs shall provide to the department data regarding drug pricing, the fees paid for pharmacy benefit management services, payments or rebates to or from pharmacy benefits managers regarding drugs or services, and other information as needed to provide transparency on pricing and payments related to prescription drugs. This may include all of the following:
(1) Drug codes, names, therapeutic category, and manufacturer.
(2) Wholesale acquisition costs.
(3) Average wholesale prices.
(4) National average drug acquisition cost.
(5) Fees paid to pharmacy benefit managers by manufacturers, health care service plans, health insurers, employers, and pharmacies.
(6) Prescription counts.
(7) Member counts.
(8) Payment amounts collected and paid by pharmacy benefit managers.
(9) Discounts and rebate amounts collected and paid by pharmacy benefit managers.
(10) Information grouped by National Drug Code and Generic Product Identifier.
(11) Information grouped by pharmacies owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager and pharmacies not owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager.
(12) Information grouped by business relationship, including by exclusive relationships under a contract, agreement, or other arrangement between a pharmacy benefit manager and a pharmaceutical manufacturer to exclusively dispense or provide a drug to a health care service plan’s or health insurer’s employees, enrollees, or insureds.
(13) Information needed to calculate any of the following:
(A) The number of participants or beneficiaries who filled a prescription.
(B) Total out-of-pocket spending by participants or beneficiaries.
(C) Total net price by drug.
(D) Payer total net spending by drug.
(E) Payer average net spending per 30-day and 90-day supply.
(F) Percentage of prescriptions dispensed by pharmacies owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager.
(G) Comparisons of the amounts charged to patients and payers by pharmacies owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager, with the amounts charged by pharmacies not owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager.
(H) Average sales price of drugs dispensed at pharmacies owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager.
(I) Average wholesale acquisition cost of drugs dispensed at pharmacies owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager.
(J) Average drug acquisition cost per dosage unit of drugs dispensed at pharmacies owned by, or under common control of, the pharmacy benefit manager.
(K) Average drug acquisition cost per 30-day and 90-day supply.
(c) The department shall promulgate regulations for the purpose of carrying out this section, including regulations relating to the content, file formats, frequency, and timelines for data submission by pharmacy benefit managers. In the development of regulations, the department may consider national or regional standards and standards from other databases.
(d) Until January 1, 2028, any necessary rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing this section may be adopted as emergency regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare.
(e) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, including subdivisions (e) and (h) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code, an emergency regulation adopted pursuant to this section shall be repealed by operation of law unless the adoption, amendment, or repeal of the regulation is promulgated by the office pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code within two years of the initial adoption of the emergency regulation.
(f) In its initial implementation of this section, the department shall seek historical data for three years before the effective date of the regulations described in subdivision (d).
(g) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
SEC. 42.
Section 127697 of the Health and Safety Code is repealed.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, CHHSA may enter into partnerships regarding over-the-counter naloxone products. Partnerships entered into pursuant to this section may allow the development, manufacturing, or distribution of over-the-counter naloxone products by any entity that is authorized to do so under federal or state law.
SEC. 43.
Section 127697 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:127697.
In addition to partnerships authorized pursuant to Sections 127692 and 127693, the California Health and Human Services Agency may, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, enter into partnerships to increase competition, lower prices, and address supply shortages under any of the following circumstances:(a) For over-the-counter naloxone products. Partnerships entered into pursuant to this section may allow the development, manufacturing, or distribution of over-the-counter naloxone products by an entity that is authorized to do so under federal or state law.
(b) For generic or brand name drugs to address emerging health concerns, including in reproductive health care or gender affirming health care.
(c) For the development, production, procurement, or distribution of vaccines, by an entity that is authorized to do so under federal or state law, with the intent that these vaccines be made widely available to public and private purchasers, providers, suppliers, and pharmacies.
(d) For the manufacture, purchase, or distribution of medical supplies or medical devices.
SEC. 44.
Section 127825 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:127825.
(a) As a component of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health(b) For the purposes of this chapter, “behavioral health “certified wellness coach” means a new category of behavioral health provider trained specifically to help address the unmet mental health and substance use needs of children and youth. Recognizing that unmet mental health and substance use needs create learning barriers, behavioral health certified wellness coaches shall engage and support children and youth in cultural, linguistic, and age-appropriate services, services with the ability to refer and link to higher levels of care, as needed. As members a member of a care team, a behavioral health professionals professional serving as a certified wellness coach receive receives appropriate supervision and coordination from licensed staff. staff who are licensed or who hold a pupil personnel services credential pursuant to Section 44266 of the Education Code, or school nurse services credential pursuant to Section 44267.5 of the Education Code. Training and qualifications include, but are not limited to, psychoeducation, system navigation, crisis deescalation, safety planning, referral, coping skills, and motivational interviewing.
(c) This chapter shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with Section 44270.2 of the Education Code and Section 80049.1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
SEC. 45.
Section 150900 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:150900.
(a) The Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex (TGI) Wellness and Equity Fund is established in the State Treasury.(b) The State Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity Health shall administer the TGI Wellness and Equity Fund for purposes of funding grants to create programs, or funding existing programs, focused on coordinating trans-inclusive health care for individuals who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, or intersex.
(c) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the TGI Wellness and Equity Fund may be used to fund grants for the following purposes:
(1) The grants shall be available to TGI-serving organizations for the purpose of increasing the capacity of health care professionals to effectively provide TGI health care and institute TGI-inclusive best practices. This includes the creation of educational materials or facilitation of capacity-building trainings.
(2) The grants shall be available to TGI-serving organizations for the purpose of facilitating therapeutic arts programs, such as dancing, painting, or writing. evidence-based therapeutic arts programs.
(3) The grants shall be available to TGI-serving organizations for purposes of assisting, identifying, and referring TGI people to access supportive housing. This includes case management opportunities, financial assistance, and assisting TGI people in receiving and utilizing housing vouchers. If a TGI-serving organization has already implemented a TGI-specific housing program, funding may be utilized to maintain or expand existing housing programs.
(4) The grants shall be available to a hospital, health care clinic, or other medical provider that currently provides gender-affirming health care services, such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery, to continue providing those services, or to a hospital, health care clinic, or other medical provider that will establish a program that offers gender-affirming health care services and has an established relationship with a TGI-serving organization that will lead in establishing the program.
(d) A hospital, health care clinic, or other medical provider that applies for a grant must apply in partnership with a TGI-serving organization and consult with the TGI-serving organization throughout the process of creating and implementing its trans-inclusive health care program.
(e) This section does not limit or impact payer coverage requirements of health care or other social services.
(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Health care” means all of the following:
(A) Medical, behavioral, and spiritual care, which includes, but is not limited to, guided meditation and nondenominational therapy.
(B)Therapeutic arts programs, which includes, but is not limited to, dancing, painting, and writing classes.
(B) Evidence-based therapeutic arts programs.
(C) Services related to substance use disorder or substance abuse.
(D) Supportive housing as a mechanism to support TGI-identified individuals in accessing other social services.
(2) A “TGI-serving organization” means either of the following:
(A) A public or nonprofit organization with a mission statement that centers around serving transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex people, and where at least 65 percent of the clients of the organization are TGI.
(B) A nonprofit that serves as the fiscal agent or sponsor for an organization described in subparagraph (A). A nonprofit that is serving as a fiscal agent or sponsor shall pass all funding to the organization, but may charge a reasonable or industry standard fee for administrative costs of not more than 16 percent.
(3) “Transgender” is broad and inclusive of all gender identities different from the gender that a person was assigned at birth.
(4) “Gender nonconforming” is an inclusive term used to describe individuals who may experience a gender that is neither exclusively male nor female or is in between or beyond both of those genders, including, but not limited to, nonbinary, gender fluid, agender or without gender, third gender, genderqueer, gender variant, Two-Spirit, Hijra, Kathoey, Mak nyah, Muxe, Waria, Māhū, and Fa’afafine.
(5) “Intersex” is an umbrella term referring to people whose anatomy, hormones, or chromosomes fall outside the strict male and female binary.
SEC. 46.
Section 10119.6 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:10119.6.
(a) (1) A large group disability insurance policy, except a specialized disability insurance policy, that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after(2) A small group disability insurance policy, except a disability insurance policy described in paragraph (4), that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, January 1, 2026, shall offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services. This paragraph shall not be construed to require a small group disability insurance policy to provide coverage for infertility services.
(3) A disability insurer shall include notice of the coverage specified in this section in the insurer’s evidence of coverage.
(4) This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or specialized disability insurance policies.
(b) For purposes of this section, “infertility” means a condition or status characterized by any of the following:
(1) A licensed physician’s findings, based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors. This definition shall not prevent testing and diagnosis before the 12-month or 6-month period to establish infertility in paragraph (3).
(2) A person’s inability to reproduce either as an individual or with their partner without medical intervention.
(3) The failure to establish a pregnancy or to carry a pregnancy to live birth after regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. For purposes of this section “regular, unprotected sexual intercourse” means no more than 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse for a person under 35 years of age or no more than 6 months of unprotected sexual intercourse for a person 35 years of age or older. Pregnancy resulting in miscarriage does not restart the 12-month or 6-month time period to qualify as having infertility.
(c) The policy may not include any of the following:
(1) Any exclusion, limitation, or other restriction on coverage of fertility medications that are different from those imposed on other prescription medications.
(2) Any exclusion or denial of coverage of any fertility services based on a covered individual’s participation in fertility services provided by or to a third party. For purposes of this section, “third party” includes an oocyte, sperm, or embryo donor, gestational carrier, or surrogate that enables an intended recipient to become a parent.
(3) Any deductible, copayment, coinsurance, benefit maximum, waiting period, or any other limitation on coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, except as provided in subdivision (a) that are different from those imposed upon benefits for services not related to infertility.
(d) This section does not in any way deny or restrict any existing right or benefit to coverage and treatment of infertility or fertility services under an existing law, plan, or policy.
(e) This section applies to every disability insurance policy that is issued, amended, or renewed to residents of this state regardless of the situs of the contract.
(f) Consistent with Section 10140, coverage for the treatment of infertility and fertility services shall be provided without discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, domestic partner status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. This subdivision shall not be construed to interfere with the clinical judgment of a physician and surgeon.
(g) This section shall not apply to a religious employer, as defined in Section 10123.196.
(h) This section shall not apply to a health care benefit plan or policy entered into with the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System pursuant to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (Part 5 (commencing with Section 22750) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code) until July 1, 2027.
(i) (1) Until January 1, 2027, the commissioner may issue guidance regarding compliance with this section, and that guidance shall not be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(2) The department shall consult with the Department of Managed Health Care and stakeholders in issuing the guidance specified in paragraph (1).
SEC. 47.
Section 10125.2 is added to the Insurance Code, to read:10125.2.
(a) A pharmacy benefit manager that contracts with a health insurer shall comply with Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 1385.001) of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, including Sections 1385.004 and 1385.006 of the Health and Safety Code.(b) A complaint made by an insured that includes potential violations by a pharmacy benefit manager of the terms of Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 1385.001) of Chapter 2.2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code shall be considered by the department to be a complaint against the health insurer.
SEC. 48.
Section 1026 of the Penal Code is amended to read:1026.
(a) If a defendant pleads not guilty by reason of insanity, and also joins with it another plea or pleas, the defendant shall first be tried as if only the other plea or pleas had been entered, and in that trial the defendant shall be conclusively presumed to have been sane at the time the offense is alleged to have been committed. If the jury finds the defendant guilty, or if the defendant pleads only not guilty by reason of insanity, the question whether the defendant was sane or insane at the time the offense was committed shall be promptly tried, either before the same jury or before a new jury in the discretion of the court. In that trial, the jury shall return a verdict either that the defendant was sane at the time the offense was committed or was insane at the time the offense was committed. If the verdict or finding is that the defendant was sane at the time the offense was committed, the court shall sentence the defendant as provided by law. If the verdict or finding is that the defendant was insane at the time the offense was committed, the court, unless it appears to the court that the sanity of the defendant has been recovered fully, shall direct that the defendant be committed to the State Department of State Hospitals for the care and treatment of persons with mental health disorders or any other appropriate public or private treatment facility approved by the community program director, or the court may order the defendant placed on outpatient status pursuant to Title 15 (commencing with Section 1600) of Part 2.(b) Prior to making the order directing that the defendant be committed to the State Department of State Hospitals or other treatment facility or placed on outpatient status, the court shall order the community program director or a designee to evaluate the defendant and to submit to the court within 15 judicial days of the order a written recommendation as to whether the defendant should be placed on outpatient status or committed to the State Department of State Hospitals or other treatment facility. A person shall not be admitted to a state hospital or other treatment facility or placed on outpatient status under this section without having been evaluated by the community program director or a designee. If, however, it appears to the court that the sanity of the defendant has been recovered fully, the defendant shall be remanded to the custody of the sheriff until the issue of sanity has been finally determined in the manner prescribed by law. A defendant committed to a state hospital or other treatment facility or placed on outpatient status pursuant to Title 15 (commencing with Section 1600) of Part 2 shall not be released from confinement, parole, or outpatient status unless and until the court that committed the person, after notice and hearing, finds and determines that the person’s sanity has been restored, or meets the criteria for release pursuant to Section 4146 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. This section does not prohibit the transfer of the patient from one state hospital to any other state hospital by proper authority. This section does not prohibit the transfer of the patient to a hospital in another state in the manner provided in Section 4119 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(c) If the defendant is committed or transferred to the State Department of State Hospitals pursuant to this section, the court may, upon receiving the written recommendation of the medical director of the state hospital and the community program director, or their designee, or, pursuant to Section 4360.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the recommendation of the independent evaluation panel, that the defendant be transferred to a public or private treatment facility approved by the community program director or their designee, or, pursuant to Section 4360.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the independent evaluation panel, order the defendant transferred to that facility. If the defendant is committed or transferred to a public or private treatment facility approved by the community program director, the court may, upon receiving the written recommendation of the community program director, order the defendant transferred to the State Department of State Hospitals or to another public or private treatment facility approved by the community program director. If either the defendant or the prosecuting attorney chooses to contest either kind of order of transfer, a petition may be filed in the court requesting a hearing, which shall be held if the court determines that sufficient grounds exist. At that hearing, the prosecuting attorney or the defendant may present evidence bearing on the order of transfer. The court shall use the same procedures and standards of proof as used in conducting probation revocation hearings pursuant to Section 1203.2.
(d) Prior to making an order for transfer under this section, the court shall notify the defendant, the attorney of record for the defendant, the prosecuting attorney, and the community program director or a designee.
(e) If the court, after considering the placement recommendation of the community program director or independent evaluation panel required in subdivision (b), orders that the defendant be committed to the State Department of State Hospitals or other public or private treatment facility, the court shall provide copies of the following documents prior to the admission of the defendant to the State Department of State Hospitals or other treatment facility where the defendant is to be committed:
(1) The commitment order, including a specification of the charges.
(2) A computation or statement setting forth the maximum term of commitment in accordance with Section 1026.5.
(3) A computation or statement setting forth the amount of credit for time served, if any, to be deducted from the maximum term of commitment.
(4) State summary criminal history information.
(5) Any arrest reports prepared by the police department or other law enforcement agency.
(6) Any court-ordered psychiatric examination or evaluation reports.
(7) The community program director’s placement recommendation report.
(8) Any medical records.
(f) If the defendant is confined in a state hospital or other treatment facility as an inpatient, the medical director of the facility shall, at six-month 12-month intervals, submit a report in writing to the court and the community program director of the county of commitment, or a designee, setting forth the status and progress of the defendant. The court shall transmit copies of these reports to the prosecutor and defense counsel.
(g) For purposes of this section and Sections 1026.1 to 1026.6, inclusive, “community program director” means the person, agency, or entity designated by the State Department of State Hospitals pursuant to Section 1605 of this code and Section 4360 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 49.
Section 5961.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:5961.2.
(a) As a component of the initiative, the State Department of Health Care Services, or its contracted vendor, may award competitive grants to entities it deems qualified for the following purposes:(1) To build partnerships, capacity, and infrastructure supporting ongoing school-linked behavioral health services for children and youth 25 years of age and younger.
(2) To expand access to licensed medical and behavioral health professionals, counselors, peer support specialists, community health workers, and behavioral health certified wellness coaches serving children and youth.
(3) To build a statewide, community-based organization provider network for behavioral health prevention and treatment services for children and youth, including those attending institutions of higher education.
(4) To enhance coordination and partnerships with respect to behavioral health prevention and treatment services for children and youth via appropriate data sharing systems.
(b) Subject to subdivision (c), entities eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section may include counties, city mental health authorities, tribal entities, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, publicly funded childcare and preschools, health care service plans, community-based organizations, and behavioral health providers.
(c) The department shall determine the eligibility criteria, grant application process, and methodology for the distribution of funds appropriated for the purposes described in this section to those entities it deems qualified.
(d) The department shall ensure that grant distribution includes, but is not limited to, rural, urban, and suburban regions and geographic distribution among different age cohorts. Allowable activities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Addressing behavioral health disparities while providing linguistically and culturally competent services for children and youth who lack access to adequate behavioral health services or otherwise are difficult to reach.
(2) Supporting administrative costs, including planning, project management, training, and technical assistance.
(3) Linking plans, counties, and school districts with local social services and community-based organizations.
(4) Implementing telehealth equipment and virtual systems in schools or near schools.
(5) Implementing data-sharing tools, information technology interfaces, or other technology investments designed to connect to behavioral health services.
(e) Of the funds appropriated for purposes of this section to institutions of higher education, at least two-thirds shall be reserved for California Community Colleges.
(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Comprehensive risk contract” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 438.2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) “Health care service plan” has the same meaning as described in subdivision (f) of Section 1345 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) “Institution of higher education” means the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California.
(4) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, charter school, the California Schools for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind.
(5) “Tribal entity” means a federally recognized Indian tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization.
SEC. 50.
Section 14000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 291 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:14000.
The purpose of this chapter is to afford to qualifying individuals health care and related remedial or preventive services, including related social services that are necessary for those receiving health care under this chapter.The intent of the Legislature is to provide, to the extent practicable, through the provisions of this chapter, for health care for California residents who lack sufficient income to meet the costs of health care and whose other assets are so limited that their application toward the costs of that care would jeopardize the person or family’s future minimum self-maintenance and security. It is intended that, whenever possible and feasible, all of the following shall apply:
(a) The means employed shall allow, to the extent practicable, eligible persons to secure health care in the same manner employed by the public generally, and without discrimination or segregation based purely on their economic disability. The means employed shall include an emphasis on efforts to arrange and encourage access to health care through enrollment in organized, managed care plans of the type available to the general public.
(b) The benefits available under this chapter shall not duplicate those provided under other federal or state laws or under other contractual or legal entitlements of the person or persons receiving them.
(c) In the administration of this chapter and in establishing the means to be used to provide access to health care to persons eligible under this chapter, the department shall emphasize and take advantage of both the efficient organization and ready accessibility and availability of health care facilities and resources through enrollment in managed health care plans and new and innovative fee-for-service managed health care plan approaches to the delivery of health care services.
This section shall remain in effect only until subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 is implemented, and as of that date is repealed.
(d) This section shall become operative January 1, 2026.
SEC. 51.
Section 14000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 291 of the Statutes of 2022, is amended to read:14000.
The purpose of this chapter is to afford to qualifying individuals health care and related remedial or preventive services, including related social services that are necessary for those receiving health care under this chapter.The intent of the Legislature is to provide, to the extent practicable, through the provisions of this chapter, for health care for California residents who lack sufficient income to meet the costs of health care. It is intended that, whenever possible and feasible, all of the following shall apply:
(a) The means employed shall allow, to the extent practicable, eligible persons to secure health care in the same manner employed by the public generally, and without discrimination or segregation based purely on their economic disability. The means employed shall include an emphasis on efforts to arrange and encourage access to health care through enrollment in organized, managed care plans of the type available to the general public.
(b) The benefits available under this chapter shall not duplicate those provided under other federal or state laws or under other contractual or legal entitlements of the person or persons receiving them.
(c) In the administration of this chapter and in establishing the means to be used to provide access to health care to persons eligible under this chapter, the department shall emphasize and take advantage of both the efficient organization and ready accessibility and availability of health care facilities and resources through enrollment in managed health care plans and new and innovative fee-for-service managed health care plan approaches to the delivery of health care services.
This section shall become operative on the date that subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 is implemented.
(d) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 52.
Section 14005.11 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 707 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:14005.11.
(a) To the extent required by federal law for qualified(b) The department shall, shall pay, in addition to subdivision (a), pay applicable additional premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for drug coverage extended to qualified Medicare beneficiaries. beneficiaries enrolled in the federal Medicare Program.
(c) The deductible payments required by subdivision (b) may be covered by providing the same drug coverage as offered to categorically needy recipients, as defined in Section 14050.1.
(d) As specified in this section, it is the intent of the Legislature to assist in the payment of Medicare Part B premiums for qualified low-income Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are ineligible for federal sharing or federal contribution for the payment of those premiums.
(e) For a Medi-Cal beneficiary who has a spend down of excess income but who is ineligible for the assistance provided pursuant to subdivision (a), or who is ineligible for any other federally funded assistance for the payment of the beneficiary’s Medicare Part B premium, the department shall pay for the beneficiary’s Medicare Part B premium in the month following each month that the beneficiary’s spend down of excess income has been met.
(f) When a county is informed that an applicant or beneficiary is eligible for Medicare benefits, benefits under the federal Medicare Program, the county shall determine whether that individual is eligible under the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program, or the Qualifying Individual program and program, and shall enroll the applicant or beneficiary in the appropriate program.
(g) (1) The department shall enter into a Medicare Part A buy-in agreement for qualified Medicare beneficiaries with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by submitting a state plan amendment with a proposed effective date in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Medicare Part A buy-in agreement described in this subdivision shall be effective on January 1, 2025, or the date the department communicates to the Department of Finance in writing that systems have been programmed for implementation of this subdivision, whichever date is later.
(3) This subdivision shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and that federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized.
(4) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, until the time regulations are adopted.
(5) For purposes of this subdivision, “Medicare Part A buy-in agreement” means an agreement authorized by Section 1395v of Title 42 of the United States Code under which the state shall pay Medicare Part A premiums for qualified individuals who are enrolled in both the Medicare Program and the Medi-Cal program.
(h)This section shall become inoperative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain inoperative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.
(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 53.
Section 14005.11 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 707 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:14005.11.
(a) To the extent required by federal law for qualified beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare Program, the department shall pay the premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for elderly and disabled persons entitled to benefits under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act, whose income does not exceed the federal poverty level.(b) The department shall pay, in addition to subdivision (a), applicable additional premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for drug coverage extended to qualified beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare Program.
(c) The deductible payments required by subdivision (b) may be covered by providing the same drug coverage as offered to categorically needy recipients, as defined in Section 14050.1.
(d) As specified in this section, it is the intent of the Legislature to assist in the payment of Medicare Part B premiums for qualified low-income Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are ineligible for federal sharing or federal contribution for the payment of those premiums.
(e) For a Medi-Cal beneficiary who has a spend down of excess income but who is ineligible for the assistance provided pursuant to subdivision (a), or who is ineligible for any other federally funded assistance for the payment of the beneficiary’s Medicare Part B premium, the department shall pay for the beneficiary’s Medicare Part B premium in the month following each month that the beneficiary’s spend down of excess income has been met.
(f) When a county is informed that an applicant or beneficiary is eligible for benefits under the Medicare Program, the county shall determine whether that individual is eligible under the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program, or the Qualifying Individual program, and shall enroll the applicant or beneficiary in the appropriate program.
(g) (1) The department shall enter into a Medicare Part A buy-in agreement for qualified Medicare beneficiaries with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by submitting a state plan amendment with a proposed effective date in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Medicare Part A buy-in agreement described in this subdivision shall be effective on January 1, 2025, or the date the department communicates to the Department of Finance in writing that systems have been programmed for implementation of this subdivision, whichever date is later.
(3) This subdivision shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and that federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized.
(4) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, may implement, interpret, or make specific this subdivision by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, until the time regulations are adopted.
(5) For purposes of this subdivision, “Medicare Part A buy-in agreement” means an agreement authorized by Section 1395v of Title 42 of the United States Code under which the state shall pay Medicare Part A premiums for qualified individuals who are enrolled in both the Medicare Program and the Medi-Cal program.
(h)This section shall become operative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain operative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.
(h) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
SEC. 54.
Section 14005.20 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 75 of Chapter 42 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:14005.20.
(a) The(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the income and resources of these persons may not exceed the maximum amount for a disabled person as described in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)).
(2)Effective January 1, 2014, the income and resources of individuals eligible under this section may not exceed the maximum amount for a disabled person as described in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)), as determined, counted, and valued in accordance with the requirements of Section 14005.64.
(c)The amendments made by the act that added this subdivision shall be implemented only if, and to the extent that, federal financial participation is available and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.
(d)This section shall become inoperative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain inoperative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 55.
Section 14005.20 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as added by Section 76 of Chapter 42 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:14005.20.
(a) The department shall adopt the option made available under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XII) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XII)) to pay allowable tuberculosis-related services for persons infected with tuberculosis.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the income of these persons may not exceed the maximum amount for a disabled person as described in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)).
(2) Effective January 1, 2014, the income of individuals eligible under this section may not exceed the maximum amount for a disabled person as described in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)), as determined, counted, and valued in accordance with the requirements of Section 14005.64.
(c) The amendments made by the act that added this subdivision shall be implemented only if, and to the extent that, federal financial participation is available and any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.
(d)This section shall become operative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain operative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.
(d) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
SEC. 56.
Section 14005.40 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 80 of Chapter 42 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:14005.40.
(a) To the extent federal financial participation is available, the department shall exercise its option under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(X) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(X)), to implement a program for aged and disabled persons as described in Section 1902(m) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(m)(1)).(b) To the extent federal financial participation is available, the blind shall be included within the definition of disabled for the purposes of the program established in this section.
(c) An individual shall satisfy the financial eligibility requirement of this program if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Countable income, as determined in accordance with Section 1902(m) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(m)), does not exceed an income level equal to 100 percent of the applicable federal poverty level.
(2) (A) Until such time as the time that the department obtains federal approval for the income disregard described in paragraph (3), countable income shall include an additional two hundred thirty dollars ($230) for an individual or, in the case of a couple, three hundred ten dollars ($310).
(B) Upon receipt of federal approval for, and implementation of, paragraph (3), this paragraph shall become inoperative. The director shall execute a declaration, which shall be retained by the director, stating that federal approval for paragraph (3) has been obtained and the date upon which that paragraph (3) will shall be implemented. The director shall post the declaration on the department’s internet website.
(3) (A) Pursuant to Section 1902(r)(2) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(r)(2)), all countable income over 100 percent of the federal poverty level, up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, shall be disregarded, after taking all other disregards, deductions, and exclusions into account for those persons eligible pursuant to this section.
(B) The department shall seek federal approval to implement this paragraph.
(4) (A) For the purposes of calculating countable income under this section, an income exemption shall be applied as necessary to adjust the SSI/SSP Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI/SSP) payment level as used in this section so that it is the same as the SSI/SSP payment level that was in place on May 1, 2009.
(B) This additional income exemption shall cease to be implemented when the SSI/SSP payment levels increase beyond those in effect on May 1, 2009.
(C) The income level determined pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not be less than the SSI/SSP payment level the individual receives or would receive as a disabled or blind individual or, in the case of a couple, the SSI/SSP payment level the couple receives or would receive as a disabled or blind couple.
(5) Countable resources, as determined in accordance with Section 1902(m) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(m)), subdivision (a) of Section 14005.62, do not exceed the maximum levels established in that section.
(d) The financial eligibility requirements provided in subdivision (c) may be adjusted upwards to reflect the cost of living in California, contingent upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until regulations are adopted.
(2) The department shall adopt regulations by July 1, 2023, January 1, 2030, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations are adopted.
(f) For purposes of calculating income under this section during any calendar year, increases in social security benefit payments under Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 401 et seq.) arising from cost-of-living adjustments shall be disregarded commencing in the month that these social security benefit payments are increased by the cost-of-living adjustment through the month before the month in which a change in the federal poverty level requires the department to modify the income level described in subdivision (c).
(g) (1) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A) “SSI” means the federal Supplemental Security Income program established under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act.
(B) “Income level” means the applicable income level specified in subdivision (c).
(C) The board and care “personal care services” or “PCS” deduction refers to an income disregard that is applied to a resident in a licensed community care facility in lieu of the board and care deduction (equal to the amount by which the basic board and care rate exceeds the income level in subparagraph (B)) when the PCS deduction is greater than the board and care deduction.
(2) (A) For purposes of this section, the SSI recipient retention amount is the amount by which the SSI maximum payment amount to an individual residing in a licensed community care facility exceeds the maximum amount that the state allows community care facilities to charge a resident who is an SSI recipient.
(B) For the purposes of this section, the personal and incidental needs deduction for an individual residing in a licensed community care facility is either one of the following:
(i) If the board and care deduction is applicable to the individual, the amount, not to exceed the amount by which the SSI recipient retention amount exceeds twenty dollars ($20), nor to be less than zero, by which the sum of the amount that the individual pays to the individual’s licensed community care facility and the SSI recipient retention amount exceed the sum of the individual’s income level, the individual’s board and care deduction, and twenty dollars ($20).
(ii) If the PCS deduction specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) is applicable to the individual, an amount, not to exceed the amount by which the SSI recipient retention amount exceeds twenty dollars ($20), nor to be less than zero, by which the sum of the amount that the individual pays to the individual’s community care facility and the SSI recipient retention amount exceed the sum of the individual’s income level, the individual’s PCS deduction, and twenty dollars ($20).
(3) In determining the countable income under this section of an individual residing in a licensed community care facility, the individual shall have deducted from the individual’s income the amount specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).
(h) No later than one month after the effective date of subdivision (g), the department shall submit to the federal Medicaid program administrator a state plan amendment seeking approval of the income deduction specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (g), and of federal financial participation for the costs resulting from that income deduction.
(i) The deduction prescribed by paragraph (3) of subdivision (g) shall be applied no later than the first day of the fourth month after the month in which the department receives approval for the federal financial participation specified in subdivision (h). Until approval for federal financial participation is received, there shall be no deduction under paragraph (3) of subdivision (g).
(j) This section shall be implemented only if, and to the extent that, any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.
(k) Paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) shall be implemented after the director determines, and communicates that determination in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), but no sooner than January 1, 2020.
(l)This section shall become inoperative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain inoperative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.
(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
SEC. 57.
Section 14005.40 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as added by Section 81 of Chapter 42 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:14005.40.
(a) To the extent federal financial participation is available, the department shall exercise its option under Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(X) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(X)), to implement a program for aged and disabled persons as described in Section 1902(m) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(m)(1)).(b) To the extent federal financial participation is available, the blind shall be included within the definition of disabled for the purposes of the program established in this section.
(c) An individual shall satisfy the financial eligibility requirement of this program if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) Countable income, as determined in accordance with Section 1902(m) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(m)), does not exceed an income level equal to 100 percent of the applicable federal poverty level.
(2) (A) Until the time that the department obtains federal approval for the income disregard described in paragraph (3), countable income shall include an additional two hundred thirty dollars ($230) for an individual or, in the case of a couple, three hundred ten dollars ($310).
(B) Upon receipt of federal approval for, and implementation of, paragraph (3), this paragraph shall become inoperative. The director shall execute a declaration, which shall be retained by the director, stating that federal approval for paragraph (3) has been obtained and the date that paragraph (3) shall be implemented. The director shall post the declaration on the department’s internet website.
(3) (A) Pursuant to Section 1902(r)(2) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(r)(2)), all countable income over 100 percent of the federal poverty level, up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, shall be disregarded, after taking all other disregards, deductions, and exclusions into account for those persons eligible pursuant to this section.
(B) The department shall seek federal approval to implement this paragraph.
(4) (A) For the purposes of calculating countable income under this section, an income exemption shall be applied as necessary to adjust the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI/SSP) payment level as used in this section so that it is the same as the SSI/SSP payment level that was in place on May 1, 2009.
(B) This additional income exemption shall cease to be implemented when the SSI/SSP payment levels increase beyond those in effect on May 1, 2009.
(C) The income level determined pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not be less than the SSI/SSP payment level the individual receives or would receive as a disabled or blind individual or, in the case of a couple, the SSI/SSP payment level the couple receives or would receive as a disabled or blind couple.
(5) Countable resources, including property or other assets, shall not be considered in determining eligibility.
(d) The financial eligibility requirements provided in subdivision (c) may be adjusted upwards to reflect the cost of living in California, contingent upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department, without taking any further regulatory action, shall implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until regulations are adopted.
(2) The department shall adopt regulations by July 1, 2023, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations are adopted.
(f) For purposes of calculating income under this section during any calendar year, increases in social security benefit payments under Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 401 et seq.) arising from cost-of-living adjustments shall be disregarded commencing in the month that these social security benefit payments are increased by the cost-of-living adjustment through the month before the month in which a change in the federal poverty level requires the department to modify the income level described in subdivision (c).
(g) (1) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(A) “SSI” means the federal Supplemental Security Income program established under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act.
(B) “Income level” means the applicable income level specified in subdivision (c).
(C) The board and care “personal care services” or “PCS” deduction refers to an income disregard that is applied to a resident in a licensed community care facility in lieu of the board and care deduction (equal to the amount by which the basic board and care rate exceeds the income level in subparagraph (B)) when the PCS deduction is greater than the board and care deduction.
(2) (A) For purposes of this section, the SSI recipient retention amount is the amount by which the SSI maximum payment amount to an individual residing in a licensed community care facility exceeds the maximum amount that the state allows community care facilities to charge a resident who is an SSI recipient.
(B) For the purposes of this section, the personal and incidental needs deduction for an individual residing in a licensed community care facility is one of the following:
(i) If the board and care deduction is applicable to the individual, the amount, not to exceed the amount by which the SSI recipient retention amount exceeds twenty dollars ($20), nor to be less than zero, by which the sum of the amount that the individual pays to the individual’s licensed community care facility and the SSI recipient retention amount exceed the sum of the individual’s income level, the individual’s board and care deduction, and twenty dollars ($20).
(ii) If the PCS deduction specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) is applicable to the individual, an amount, not to exceed the amount by which the SSI recipient retention amount exceeds twenty dollars ($20), nor to be less than zero, by which the sum of the amount that the individual pays to the individual’s community care facility and the SSI recipient retention amount exceed the sum of the individual’s income level, the individual’s PCS deduction, and twenty dollars ($20).
(3) In determining the countable income under this section of an individual residing in a licensed community care facility, the individual shall have deducted from the individual’s income the amount specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).
(h) No later than one month after the effective date of subdivision (g), the department shall submit to the federal Medicaid program administrator a state plan amendment seeking approval of the income deduction specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (g), and of federal financial participation for the costs resulting from that income deduction.
(i) The deduction prescribed by paragraph (3) of subdivision (g) shall be applied no later than the first day of the fourth month after the month in which the department receives approval for the federal financial participation specified in subdivision (h). Until approval for federal financial participation is received, there shall be no deduction under paragraph (3) of subdivision (g).
(j) This section shall be implemented only if, and to the extent that, any necessary federal approvals have been obtained.
(k) Paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) shall be implemented after the director determines, and communicates that determination in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), but no sooner than January 1, 2020.
(l)This section shall become operative on the later of either January 1, 2024, or the date on which the determination of the Director of Health Care Services is communicated in writing to the Department of Finance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62, and subject to implementation of Section 14005.62 pursuant to subdivision (d) of that section, and shall remain operative for time periods in which the department has obtained the necessary federal approvals to implement paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.62 for the applicable population.
(l) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
SEC. 58.
Section 14005.62 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:Showing the opening sections of a long bill. Connect Plus has the full text and every earlier version of SB 116.Compare versions