AB317:v96#DOCUMENTBill Start
Assembly Bill
No. 317
CHAPTER 322
An act to amend Section 1368.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10125.1 of the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.
[
Approved by
Governor
October 07, 2023.
Filed with
Secretary of State
October 07, 2023.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 317, Weber.
Pharmacist service coverage.
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 under authority of the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance.
Existing law authorizes health care service plans and certain disability insurers, that offer coverage for a service that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed pharmacist, to pay or reimburse the cost of the service performed by a pharmacist for the plan or insurer if the pharmacist otherwise provides services for the plan or insurer.
This bill would instead require a health care service plan and certain disability insurers that offer coverage for a
service that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed pharmacist to pay or reimburse the cost of services performed by a pharmacist at an in-network pharmacy or by a pharmacist at an out-of-network pharmacy if the health care service plan or insurer has an out-of-network pharmacy benefit. Because a willful violation of the bill’s 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.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
YES
Local Program:
YES
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1368.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:1368.5.
(a) Every health care service plan that offers coverage for a service that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed pharmacist shall pay or reimburse the cost of the service performed by a pharmacist at an in-network pharmacy or a pharmacist at an out-of-network pharmacy if the health care service plan has an out-of-network pharmacy benefit.(b) Payment or reimbursement may be made pursuant to this section for a service performed by a duly licensed pharmacist only when all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The service performed is within the lawful scope of practice of
the pharmacist.
(2) The coverage otherwise provides reimbursement for identical services performed by other licensed health care providers.
(c) Nothing in this section shall require the plan to pay a claim to more than one provider for duplicate service or be interpreted to limit physician reimbursement.
SEC. 2.
Section 10125.1 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:10125.1.
(a) Every insurer issuing disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that offers coverage for a service that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed pharmacist shall pay or reimburse the cost of the service performed by a pharmacist at an in-network pharmacy or a pharmacist at an out-of-network pharmacy if the insurer has an out-of-network pharmacy benefit.(b) Payment or reimbursement may be made pursuant to this section for a service performed by a duly licensed pharmacist only when all of the following conditions
are met:
(1) The service performed is within the lawful scope of practice of the pharmacist.
(2) The coverage otherwise provides reimbursement for identical services performed by other licensed health care providers.
(c) Nothing in this section shall require the insurer to pay a claim to more than one provider for duplicate service or be interpreted to limit physician reimbursement.
SEC. 3.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.