SB 324: Health care coverage: endometriosis.

(1)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. Existing law generally authorizes a health care service plan or health insurer to use prior authorization and other utilization review functions, under which a licensed physician or a licensed health care professional who is competent to evaluate specific clinical issues may approve, modify, delay, or deny requests for health care services based on medical necessity.

This bill would prohibit a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, from requiring prior authorization or other utilization review for laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. any clinically indicated treatment for endometriosis, as determined by the treating physician and consistent with nationally recognized evidence-based clinical guidelines. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(2)Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program.

This bill would add laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis any clinically indicated treatment for endometriosis, as determined by the treating physician and consistent with nationally recognized evidence-based clinical guidelines, as a covered benefit under Medi-Cal without prior authorization or other utilization review.

(3)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.