AB 577 — Health care coverage: antisteering.
Last action — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
-
✓Introduced
-
2In Committee
-
3Passed Assembly
-
4Passed Senate
-
5To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 12, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Assembly.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
-
In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
-
1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).
-
Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes the willful violation of its provisions a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs to cover medically necessary prescription drugs. For a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, this bill would prohibit a health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager from engaging in specified steering practices, including, among others, requiring an enrollee or insured to use a retail pharmacy for dispensing prescription oral medications, as specified, and imposing any requirements, conditions, or exclusions that discriminate against an in-network physician in connection with dispensing prescription oral medications. The bill would require a health care provider, physician's office, clinic, or infusion center to obtain consent from an enrollee or insured and disclose a good faith estimate of the enrollee's or insured's applicable cost-sharing amount before supplying or administering an injected or infused medication to an enrollee or insured, or sending an enrollee or insured to receive an injected or infused medication, if the setting or manner of administration is different than the setting or manner of administration for which the health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager directed the enrollee or insured, as specified. Because a willful violation of these provisions relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Bill Text
- Amended 05/01/25 - Amended Assembly Current pdf May 01, 2025
- Amended 04/21/25 - Amended Assembly pdf April 21, 2025
- Introduced 02/12/25 - Introduced pdf February 12, 2025
- AB577 View text html
Action History
-
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
-
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
-
In committee: Set, second hearing. Held under submission.
-
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
-
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
-
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
-
Read second time and amended.
-
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 29).
-
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
-
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
-
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
-
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
-
Read first time. To print.
Sponsors
- Lori D. Wilson · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Wilson, Lori D. Democratic
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (121)
121 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 121 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 75% | 0% | 0% | 25% |
How each member voted (16)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Addis, Dawn | Democratic | Yea |
| Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. | Democratic | Yea |
| Arambula, Joaquin | Democratic | Yea |
| Bonta, Mia | Democratic | Yea |
| Carrillo, Juan | Democratic | Yea |
| González, Mark | Democratic | Yea |
| Krell, Maggy | Democratic | Yea |
| Patel, Darshana R. | Democratic | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Celeste | Democratic | Yea |
| Schiavo, Pilar | Democratic | Yea |
| Sharp-Collins, LaShae | Democratic | Yea |
| Stefani, Catherine | Democratic | Yea |
| Chen, Phillip | Republican | Not Voting |
| Flora, Heath | Republican | Not Voting |
| Patterson, Joe | Republican | Not Voting |
| Sanchez, Kate | Republican | Not Voting |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does AB 577 do?
- Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes the willful violation of its provisions a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs to cover medically necessary prescription drugs. For a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, this bill would prohibit a health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager from engaging in specified steering practices, including, among others, requiring an enrollee or insured to use a retail pharmacy for dispensing prescription oral medications, as specified, and imposing any requirements, conditions, or exclusions that discriminate against an in-network physician in connection with dispensing prescription oral medications. The bill would require a health care provider, physician's office, clinic, or infusion center to obtain consent from an enrollee or insured and disclose a good faith estimate of the enrollee's or insured's applicable cost-sharing amount before supplying or administering an injected or infused medication to an enrollee or insured, or sending an enrollee or insured to receive an injected or infused medication, if the setting or manner of administration is different than the setting or manner of administration for which the health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager directed the enrollee or insured, as specified. Because a willful violation of these provisions relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
- Who sponsors AB 577?
- AB 577 is sponsored by Wilson, Lori D. (Democratic).
- What is the current status of AB 577?
- This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 12, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track AB 577?
- Track AB 577 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on AB 577
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of AB 577
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →