AB 2613 — Health care service plans: provider contract termination: notice.

Summary

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's requirements a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan to notify an enrollee by United States mail at least 60 days before the termination date of a contract between a health care service plan and a provider group or a general acute care hospital to which the enrollee is assigned. If the plan reaches an agreement with a terminated provider after sending that notice, existing law requires the plan to offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider and to reassign the enrollee to another provider if the enrollee does not exercise that option. This bill would additionally require a health care service plan to notify an enrollee by email or text message, as specified and only if the enrollee has opted in and provided their contact information, at least 60 days before the termination date of a contract between a health care service plan and a provider group or a general acute care hospital to which the enrollee is assigned. If the plan reaches an agreement with a terminating or terminated provider after sending the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to send written notice by United States mail and by email or text message, as specified and only if the enrollee has opted in and provided their contact information, to affected enrollees no later than 10 business days after department approval of the notice. If the agreement is to renew, enter into a new contract, or to not terminate their contract before the termination date in the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to notify enrollees that they will remain assigned to the provider. If the agreement is to renew, enter into a new contract, or to not terminate their contract after the termination date in the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to notify and offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider. The bill would require a health care service plan to submit these notices to the department for approval within 5 business days of reaching an agreement. Because a willful violation of these provisions would be a crime, this 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

• Chaptered 09/18/26 - Chaptered html September 18, 2026
• Enrolled 09/01/26 - Enrolled html September 01, 2026
• Amended 08/21/26 - Amended Senate html August 21, 2026
• Amended 06/29/26 - Amended Senate Current pdf June 29, 2026
• Amended 04/27/26 - Amended Assembly pdf April 27, 2026
• Amended 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly pdf March 19, 2026
• Introduced 02/20/26 - Introduced pdf February 20, 2026
• AB2613 View text html

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the California codes: Section 1373.65 of the Health and Safety Code.

• Section 1373.65 of the Health and Safety Code

  terminated hospital. terminated terminated terminated terminated terminated contract, the plan shall notify and offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) 60 the agreement described in paragraph (1), affected enrollees. within 60 days of reaching the agreement (3) (2) (2). (4)If an affected enrollee does not exercise the option to return to the provider, the plan shall reassign the enrollee to another provider. 8-point type: → terminating assigned to a provider group that has admitted at least one enrollee to the terminating general acute care hospital within the past 12 calendar months of the health care service plan’s block transfer filing. terminating terminating terminating terminating terminating contract before the termination date specified in the notice required by subdivision (b), the plan shall notify each affected enrollee of the agreement and notify enrollees that they will remain assigned to the provider to whom the enrollee was assigned prior to the notices sent by the plan as required in subdivision (b). (2) If, after sending the notice required by subdivision (b), a health care service plan reaches an agreement with a terminated provider to renew or enter into a new contract or to not terminate their contract after the termination date specified in the notice required by subdivision (b), the plan shall notify and offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider. (3) The notices in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be provided in accordance with paragraph (4). (4) five business an agreement described in paragraph (1) or (2), submit to the department the written notice described in paragraph (1) or (2) for approval. No later than 10 business days after department approval, the plan shall enrollees who received the notice required by subdivision (b). no later than 10 business days after department approval (5) (4) (4). 12-point type: (h) The provisions of this section that were added or amended at the 2025–2026 Regular Session of the Legislature do not apply to plans for Medi-Cal managed care contracts with the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of, Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of, or Chapter 8.75 (commencing with Section 14591) of, Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

  amended

Action History

1. September 18, 2026

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 306, Statutes of 2026.

2. September 18, 2026

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 04, 2026

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

4. August 27, 2026

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6721.).

5. August 27, 2026

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

6. August 26, 2026

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).

7. August 24, 2026

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

8. August 21, 2026

   Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

9. August 04, 2026

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

10. August 03, 2026

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

11. June 29, 2026

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

12. June 25, 2026

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 24).

13. June 03, 2026

    Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

14. May 21, 2026

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

15. May 21, 2026

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 5184.)

16. May 14, 2026

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

17. May 13, 2026

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 13).

18. April 28, 2026

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

19. April 27, 2026

    Read second time and amended.

20. April 23, 2026

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 21).

21. March 23, 2026

    Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

22. March 19, 2026

    Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

23. March 19, 2026

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.

24. February 21, 2026

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

25. February 20, 2026

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• LaShae Sharp-Collins · Primary

Votes

Subjects