BILL NUMBER: AB 1254	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Grove

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to add Section 1367.255 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to health care service plans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1254, as amended, Grove. Health care service plans: abortion
coverage.
   Existing federal law, the federal Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA), enacts various health care coverage
market reforms that took effect January 1, 2014. Among other things,
PPACA requires a health insurance issuer offering coverage in the
individual or small group market to ensure that the coverage includes
the essential health benefits package, as defined. PPACA does not
require that a qualified health plan provide coverage for abortion,
as specified.
   Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975,
provides for the regulation of health care service plans by the
Department of Managed Health Care. Under existing law, the Director
of Managed Health Care may, after appropriate notice and opportunity
for a hearing, by order suspend or revoke a license issued under the
act, or assess administrative penalties if the director determines
that the licensee has committed an act or omission constituting
grounds for disciplinary action.
   This bill would provide that a health care service plan is not
required to include abortion as a covered benefit. The bill would
prohibit the director from denying a license, or disciplining a
licensee, on the basis that the plan excludes coverage for abortions.

   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 1367.255 is added to the  Welfare and
  Institutions  Health and Safety 
Code, immediately following Section 1367.25, to read:
   1367.255.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a health care
service plan is not required to include abortion as a covered
benefit. The director shall not deny, suspend, or revoke the license
of, or otherwise sanction or discriminate against, a licensee on the
basis that the licensee excludes coverage for abortions pursuant to
this section.
   (b) This section does not require a health care service plan to
exclude or restrict coverage for abortions.