California 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee

AB 1670 — Health care coverage.

Last action — From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

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 a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Under existing law, if a health care service plan or insurer, or one of its contracting providers, denies, modifies, or delays a health care service because the proposed service is not a covered benefit, the statement of that decision is to clearly specify the provision in the policy or contract that excludes that coverage. This bill would authorize a provider that contracts with a health care service plan or health insurer to bill an enrollee or insured for a service that is not a covered benefit if the enrollee or insured consents in writing and that written consent meets specified criteria. The bill would require a contracting provider to provide an enrollee or insured with a written estimate of the person's total cost, based on the standard rate the provider would charge for the service, if the service sought is not a covered benefit under the person's health care service plan contract or health insurance policy. The bill would require these written consent and estimate documents to be in the language spoken by the enrollee or insured, if the language is a primary language of a limited-English-proficient population group meeting a specified numeric threshold. Because a willful violation of the bill's requirements 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

Action History

  1. From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).

  2. In committee: Set, final hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  3. In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  4. In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  5. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

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

  7. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  8. Read first time.

  9. From printer. May be heard in committee March 25.

  10. Introduced. To print.

Sponsors

  • Holden · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Holden

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 1670 do?
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. Under existing law, if a health care service plan or insurer, or one of its contracting providers, denies, modifies, or delays a health care service because the proposed service is not a covered benefit, the statement of that decision is to clearly specify the provision in the policy or contract that excludes that coverage. This bill would authorize a provider that contracts with a health care service plan or health insurer to bill an enrollee or insured for a service that is not a covered benefit if the enrollee or insured consents in writing and that written consent meets specified criteria. The bill would require a contracting provider to provide an enrollee or insured with a written estimate of the person's total cost, based on the standard rate the provider would charge for the service, if the service sought is not a covered benefit under the person's health care service plan contract or health insurance policy. The bill would require these written consent and estimate documents to be in the language spoken by the enrollee or insured, if the language is a primary language of a limited-English-proficient population group meeting a specified numeric threshold. Because a willful violation of the bill's requirements 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 1670?
AB 1670 is sponsored by Holden.
What is the current status of AB 1670?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 1670?
Track AB 1670 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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