BILL NUMBER: AB 845	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cooley

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to add Section 100522 to the Government Code, relating to
health care coverage.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 845, as amended, Cooley. Health care coverage: vision care.
   Existing law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (PPACA), requires each state to establish an American Health
Benefits Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health
plans by qualified individuals and small employers. PPACA prohibits
an Exchange from making available any health plan other than a
qualified health plan, except for certain stand-alone dental plans.
Existing state law establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange
within state government, specifies the powers and duties of the
board governing the Exchange, and requires the board to facilitate
the purchase of qualified health plans through the Exchange by
qualified individuals and small employers by January 1, 2014.
   This bill would authorize the executive board that governs the
California Health Benefit Exchange to construct, manage, and maintain
an Internet Web site that is separate and clearly distinct from the
Exchange's Internet Web site, to inform consumers about participating
individual and employer-based vision plans that are available to
qualified individuals and qualified employers. The bill would
authorize the board to receive funds from providers of ancillary
vision care products and any other nongovernmental source for this
purpose. The bill would prohibit federal funds and user fees and
other assessments imposed for purposes of the Exchange from being
used for this purpose. The bill would require the Internet Web site
to provide certain information, including the fact that enrollment in
a vision plan does not constitute enrollment in a qualified health
plan or enrollment through the Exchange.  The bill would also
require the Internet Web site to facilitate an option for consumers
to obtain more information about, and enrollment in, a vision plan
through a   licensed agent, as specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 100522 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   100522.  (a) The board may construct, manage, and maintain an
Internet Web site that is separate and clearly distinct from the
Internet Web site established by the Exchange, to inform consumers
about participating individual and employer-based vision plans that
are available to qualified individuals and qualified employers. The
board may receive funds from providers of ancillary vision care
products and any other nongovernmental source for this purpose.
Federal funds, user fees, and other assessments imposed for purposes
of the Exchange shall not be used for this purpose, and other federal
and state funds shall not be commingled with funds that are made
available for this purpose.
   (b)  The Internet Web site constructed pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall offer full and complete carrier information to consumers and
shall allow enrollees and prospective enrollees to obtain
standardized comparative information on the participating vision
plans. If a telephone number is provided to provide additional
information regarding a vision plan, that telephone number shall be a
different telephone number than the telephone number provided to
receive information regarding products offered through the Exchange.
   (c) The Internet Web site constructed pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall provide, at a minimum, the following information to visitors to
the Internet Web site:
   (1) An explanation of the types of coverage offered.
   (2)  The fact that the   The  vision
plan is a separate, legally distinct entity from the Exchange.
   (3)  The fact that enrollment   Enrollment
 in a vision plan does not constitute enrollment in a qualified
health plan or enrollment through the Exchange.
   (4)  The fact that advance   Advance 
payment of premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions are not
available for a vision plan. 
   (5) Pediatric vision care is an essential health benefit covered
by the consumer's health care service plan or health insurer. 

   (d) The Internet Web site constructed pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall facilitate an option for consumers to obtain more information
about, and enrollment in, a vision plan through a licensed agent, as
described in Section 1626 of the Insurance Code.