BILL NUMBER: SB 108	CHAPTERED  07/11/05

	CHAPTER  45
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 11, 2005
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 11, 2005
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 23, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 16, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lowenthal

                        JANUARY 20, 2005

   An act to amend Section 1369 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to health care service plans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 108, Lowenthal  Health care service plans: procedures for
participation by subscribers and enrollees.
   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. Existing law requires
a health care service plan to establish procedures to permit
subscribers and enrollees to participate in establishing the plan's
public policy, as defined, and specifies that compliance with the
federal Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 is deemed
sufficient compliance with that requirement.
   This bill would delete the provision making compliance with the
Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 sufficient compliance.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 1369 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   1369.  Every plan shall establish procedures to permit subscribers
and enrollees to participate in establishing the public policy of
the plan. For purposes of this section, public policy means acts
performed by a plan or its employees and staff to assure the comfort,
dignity, and convenience of patients who rely on the plan's
facilities to provide health care services to them, their families,
and the public.