Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that reduces the cost of abortion by eliminating out-of-pocket expenses, copays, and deductibles.

Highlights:

• Establishes that a health care service plan—except for a specialized health care service plan contract—that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2022, cannot impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on coverage for all abortion and abortion-related services (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a health care service plan cannot impose any utilization management or utilization review, including prior authorization and annual or lifetime limits consistent with Sections 1367.001 and 1367.005, on the coverage for abortion services (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an insurer cannot impose any utilization management or utilization review, including prior authorization and annual or lifetime limits consistent with Sections 10112.1 and 10112.27, on the coverage for abortion services (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Medi-Cal managed care plans that contract with the State Department of Health Care Services, providers, independent practice associations, preferred provider groups, and all delegated entities that provide physician services, utilization management, or utilization review are subject to the following (Sec. 1):

• The department's authority to ensure plan compliance with this section when a health care service plan provides coverage for abortion services; and

• This section does not require an individual or group health care service plan contract to cover an experimental or investigational treatment.

• Specifies that the requirements of this section apply to a group or individual policy or certificate of health insurance or student blanket disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that are issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2022 (Sec. 2). 

• Establishes that no reimbursement is required by this act as the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates, eliminates, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, or changes the definition of a crime (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces the cost of abortion by eliminating out-of-pocket expenses, copays, and deductibles.

Highlights:

• Establishes that a health care service plan—except for a specialized health care service plan contract—that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2022, cannot impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on coverage for all abortion and abortion-related services (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a health care service plan cannot impose any utilization management or utilization review, including prior authorization and annual or lifetime limits consistent with Sections 1367.001 and 1367.005, on the coverage for abortion services (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an insurer cannot impose any utilization management or utilization review, including prior authorization and annual or lifetime limits consistent with Sections 10112.1 and 10112.27, on the coverage for abortion services (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Medi-Cal managed care plans that contract with the State Department of Health Care Services, providers, independent practice associations, preferred provider groups, and all delegated entities that provide physician services, utilization management, or utilization review are subject to the following (Sec. 1):

• The department's authority to ensure plan compliance with this section when a health care service plan provides coverage for abortion services; and

• This section does not require an individual or group health care service plan contract to cover an experimental or investigational treatment.

• Specifies that the requirements of this section apply to a group or individual policy or certificate of health insurance or student blanket disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that are issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2022 (Sec. 2). 

• Establishes that no reimbursement is required by this act as the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates, eliminates, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, or changes the definition of a crime (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces the cost of abortion by eliminating out-of-pocket expenses, copays, and deductibles.

Highlights:

• Establishes that a health care service plan—except for a specialized health care service plan contract—that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2022, cannot impose a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on coverage for all abortion and abortion-related services (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a health care service plan cannot impose any utilization management or utilization review, including prior authorization and annual or lifetime limits consistent with Sections 1367.001 and 1367.005, on the coverage for abortion services (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an insurer cannot impose any utilization management or utilization review, including prior authorization and annual or lifetime limits consistent with Sections 10112.1 and 10112.27, on the coverage for abortion services (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that Medi-Cal managed care plans that contract with the State Department of Health Care Services, providers, independent practice associations, preferred provider groups, and all delegated entities that provide physician services, utilization management, or utilization review are subject to the following (Sec. 1):

• The department's authority to ensure plan compliance with this section when a health care service plan provides coverage for abortion services; and

• This section does not require an individual or group health care service plan contract to cover an experimental or investigational treatment.

• Specifies that the requirements of this section apply to a group or individual policy or certificate of health insurance or student blanket disability insurance that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that are issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2022 (Sec. 2). 

• Establishes that no reimbursement is required by this act as the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates, eliminates, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, or changes the definition of a crime (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text