Bill Text: CA AB1842 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Health care coverage: Medication-assisted treatment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-11 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. [AB1842 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1842-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1842
| Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes |
January 16, 2024 |
An act to add Section 1342.75 to the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 10123.1935 to the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1842, as introduced, Reyes.
Health care coverage: Medication-assisted 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 and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law authorizes health care service plans and health insurers that cover prescription drugs to utilize reasonable medical management practices, including prior authorization and step therapy, consistent with applicable law.
This bill would prohibit a medical service plan and a health insurer from subjecting a naloxone product or another opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or a buprenorphine product or long-acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment
of a substance use disorder, to prior authorization or step therapy. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan 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.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1342.75 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1342.75.
Notwithstanding any other law, a health care service plan shall not subject any of the following to prior authorization or step therapy:(a) A naloxone product or another opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(b) A buprenorphine product or long-acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder.
SEC. 2.
Section 10123.1935 is added to the Insurance Code, to read:10123.1935.
Notwithstanding any other law, a health insurer shall not subject any of the following to prior authorization or step therapy:(a) A naloxone product or another opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(b) A buprenorphine product or long-acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder.
