Healthcare

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 requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism. This bill would prohibit a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, from requiring an enrollee or insured previously diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder or autism to receive a rediagnosis to maintain coverage for behavioral health treatment for their condition. The bill would require a treatment plan to be made available to the plan or insurer upon request. Because a willful violation of this provision 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.

This measure would urge the United States Congress to avoid any cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , which could harm the state's children, older adults, and families, and impact the state's economic well-being.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials. Existing law requires, as a minimum requirement for a preliminary multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential, the satisfactory completion of a program of professional preparation that, among other things, has been accredited by the Committee on Accreditation on the basis of standards of program quality and effectiveness that have been adopted by the commission and provides specified experience that addresses, among other things, health education, including the study of nutrition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the physiological and sociological effects of the abuse of alcohol, narcotics, and drugs and the use of tobacco. This bill would require that health education to also include a basic understanding of youth mental health.

Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs under the direction of the Director of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the administration of the various boards, including the Medical Board of California, under its jurisdiction that license and regulate various professions and vocations. Existing law requires a board to expedite the licensure process for certain applicants, including an applicant who has a specified relationship with an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, as prescribed, and holds a current license in another state, district, or territory of the United States in the profession or vocation for which the applicant seeks a license from the board. Existing law establishes the Medical Board of California to enforce the licensing and regulatory provisions relating to physicians and surgeons. Existing law imposes various fees on applicants for licensure of physicians and surgeons, including an application and processing fee of $625 to be paid by an applicant for a certificate based on reciprocity, and an applicant for a certificate based upon written examination, as specified. Under existing law, all moneys paid to and received by the board are required to be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California. Existing law requires moneys in that fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, as provided. This bill would require the Medical Board of California to expedite the licensure process for an applicant who submits an application that is accompanied by, among other things, payment of an expedite fee fixed by the board at an amount equal to the cost of expediting the licensure process, not to exceed $250, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.

The Pharmacy Law requires the California State Board of Pharmacy within the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate the practice of pharmacy, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacies. The Pharmacy Law authorizes the board, during a declared federal, state, or local emergency, to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law or the regulations adopted pursuant to it, if, in the board's opinion, the waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. Existing law authorizes the board to elect to continue to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law for up to 90 days following the termination of a declared public emergency if, in the board's opinion, the continued waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. This bill would instead authorize the board to elect to continue to waive application of any provision of the Pharmacy Law for up to 120 days following the termination of a declared emergency.

Existing law, the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act, defines and regulates consumer credit reports and consumer credit reporting agencies. The act prohibits a consumer credit reporting agency from making any consumer credit report containing specified items of information, including information about medical debt, as defined. Existing law prohibits a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using medical debt listed on the report as a negative factor when making a credit decision. This bill would prohibit a consumer credit reporting agency from making a consumer credit report containing information about the sale of property that is located in an area where the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency due to a natural disaster and the property is rendered uninhabitable as a result of the natural disaster. The bill would prohibit a person who uses a consumer credit report in connection with a credit transaction from using the sale of an aforementioned property listed on the report as a negative factor when making a credit decision.

House Resolution 9 designates March 15, 2025, as Long COVID Awareness Day in California. The resolution highlights Long COVID - a condition involving persistent symptoms like fatigue and cognitive issues after initial COVID-19 infection - and urges public education, support for affected individuals, and continued vaccination efforts. It does not create new laws or requirements but serves as a symbolic recognition to foster awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage community engagement around Long COVID challenges. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Assembly on March 13, 2025.