Consumer Group Praises New CA Health Care Laws

Health Access highlighted the following new California laws for securing and expanding coverage for all Californians, controlling health care costs, and/or working for health quality and equity.

ACA Protections in State Law SB 406 (Pan): It has codified two important ACA provisions into California state law: Individual and group health plans cannot establish annual or lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits for each enrollee. It also outlaws copays and other cost-sharing for preventive services. SB 406 also extends the program authorization and funding for the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP). 

Rate Reporting in the Individual and Small Group Market: AB 2118 (Kalra): This new law institutes rate reporting in the individual and small-group markets. It enables state regulators to track rate increases as well as shifts in enrollment, cost-sharing, and benefits, which have become more important with the COVID-19 pandemic and related loss of jobs and coverage. 

COVID-19 Data Collection for LGBT Communities: SB 932 (Weiner): California has collected data on how COVID-19 affects racial and ethnic groups. The new law requires similar reporting for the LGBTQ community. 

California Generic Drug Manufacturing: SB 852 (Pan): This new law allows the state to contract to directly manufacture generic drugs, and distribute the medications under a California label, Cal-Rx. This effort will prioritize increasing access to needed medication, as well as reducing the cost of prescription drugs. 

Parity in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Coverage: SB 855 (Weiner): This new law expands the range of mental health and substance use disorder treatments that private health insurance plans must cover. Previously, plans were only required to cover treatments for a limited range of “severe conditions.”