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AB-1860 Health care coverage: cancer treatment.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 09/17/2018 09:00 PM
AB1860:v95#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1860
CHAPTER 427

An act to amend Section 1367.656 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10123.206 of the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.

[ Approved by Governor  September 17, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State  September 17, 2018. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1860, Limón. Health care coverage: cancer treatment.
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. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law prohibits, until January 1, 2019, an individual or group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, that provides coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells from requiring an enrollee or insured to pay, notwithstanding any deductible, a total amount of copayments and coinsurance that exceeds $200 for an individual prescription of up to a 30-day supply of a prescribed orally administered anticancer medication, as specified. Existing law authorizes health care service plans to adjust that $200 limit on January 1 of each year, to the extent that adjustment does not exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for that year. Under existing law, a willful violation of this prohibition by a health care service plan is a crime.
This bill would extend the duration of this prohibition until January 1, 2024. The bill would increase the total amount of copayments allowed under those provisions to $250. The bill would remove the authorization for a health care service plan to adjust that limit. Because the bill would expand the scope of 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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 1367.656 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1367.656.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, an individual or group health care service plan contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, that provides coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells shall comply with all of the following:
(1) Notwithstanding any deductible, the total amount of copayments and coinsurance an enrollee is required to pay shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for an individual prescription of up to a 30-day supply of a prescribed orally administered anticancer medication covered by the contract.
(2) For a health care service plan contract that meets the definition of a “high deductible health plan” set forth in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, paragraph (1) shall only apply once an enrollee’s deductible has been satisfied for the year.
(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any coverage under a health care service plan contract for the Medicare Program pursuant to Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395 et seq.).
(4) A prescription for an orally administered anticancer medication shall be provided consistent with the appropriate standard of care for that medication.
(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 10123.206 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

10123.206.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, an individual or group health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, that provides coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells shall comply with all of the following:
(1) Notwithstanding any deductible, the total amount of copayments and coinsurance an insured is required to pay shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for an individual prescription of up to a 30-day supply of a prescribed orally administered anticancer medication covered by the policy.
(2) For a health insurance policy that meets the definition of a “high deductible health plan” set forth in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, paragraph (1) shall only apply once an insured’s deductible has been satisfied for the year.
(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any coverage under a health insurance policy for the Medicare Program pursuant to Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395 et seq.).
(4) A prescription for an orally administered anticancer medication shall be provided consistent with the appropriate standard of care for that medication.
(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 3.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.