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 specified health care service plans and health insurers to publish and maintain a provider directory or directories with information on contracting providers that deliver health care services to enrollees or insureds, and requires a health care service plan or health insurer to regularly update its printed and online provider directory or directories, as specified. Existing law requires provider directories to include specified information and disclosures.
This bill would require a full service health care service plan, specialized mental health plan, health insurer, or specialized mental health insurer to include in its provider directory or directories a statement at the top of the directory advising an enrollee or insured to contact the plan or insurer for assistance in finding an in-network provider. The bill would require the plan or insurer to respond within one business day if contacted for that assistance, and to provide a list of in-network providers confirmed to be accepting new patients within 2 business days. Because a 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.

Statutes affected:
AB 787: 127345 HSC
02/18/25 - Introduced: 127345 HSC
03/17/25 - Amended Assembly: 1367.27 HSC, 1367.27 HSC, 10133.15 INS, 10133.15 INS, 127345 HSC
04/07/25 - Amended Assembly: 1367.27 HSC, 10133.15 INS