Bill Text: CA AB952 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Dental coverage disclosures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-07-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 125, Statutes of 2023. [AB952 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB952-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 952
CHAPTER 125
An act to add Section 1374.18 to the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 10120.42 to the Insurance Code, relating to dental coverage.
[
Approved by
Governor
July 27, 2023.
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 27, 2023.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 952, Wood.
Dental coverage disclosures.
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’s requirements a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law imposes specified coverage and disclosure requirements on health care service plans and health insurers, including specialized plans and insurers, that cover dental services.
This bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer that issues, sells, renews, or offers a contract covering dental services, including
a specialized health care service plan or specialized health insurer covering dental services, to disclose whether an enrollee’s or insured’s dental coverage is “State Regulated” through a provider portal, if available, or otherwise upon request, on or after January 1, 2025. The bill would require a plan or insurer to include the statement “State Regulated,” if
the enrollee’s or insured’s dental coverage is subject to regulation by the appropriate department, on an electronic or physical identification card, or both if available, for contracts covering dental services issued on or after January 1, 2025. 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.
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 1374.18 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1374.18.
(a) To assist a provider in determining if an enrollee’s health care service plan coverage is regulated by the State of California, the health care service plan shall disclose whether the enrollee’s dental coverage is “State Regulated” through a provider portal, if available, or otherwise upon request, on or after January 1, 2025.(b) A health care service plan shall include the statement “State Regulated” if the enrollee’s dental coverage is subject to regulation by the department on an electronic or physical identification card, or both if available,
for contracts covering dental services issued on or after January 1, 2025.
(c) For purposes of this section, “health care service plan” means a health care service plan that issues, sells, renews, or offers a contract covering dental services, including a specialized health care service plan covering dental services.
SEC. 2.
Section 10120.42 is added to the Insurance Code, to read:10120.42.
(a) To assist a provider in determining if an insured’s dental coverage is regulated by the State of California, the health insurer shall disclose whether the insured’s dental coverage is “State Regulated” through a provider portal, if available, or otherwise upon request, on or after January 1, 2025.(b) A health insurer shall include the statement “State Regulated” if the insured’s dental coverage is subject to regulation by the department, on
an electronic or physical identification card, or both if available, for policies covering dental services issued on or after January 1, 2025.
(c) For purposes of this section, “health insurer” means a health insurer that issues, sells, renews, or offers a policy covering dental services, including a specialized health insurer covering dental services.
