AB 2653: Health care coverage: prescriptions.

Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Knox-Keene), 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. Existing law requires a health care service plan or health insurer that covers outpatient prescription drug benefits to provide coverage for specified prescription drugs and to post its drug formularies on its Internet Web site.

This bill would require a specified health care service plan contract or individual or small group health insurance policy that covers outpatient prescription drug benefits with coverage for naltrexone or acamprosate to provide coverage for those 2 drugs if prescribed by a licensed health care professional. Because a willful violation of the bills 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.