California Health Bills Pass to Require 85% of Premium to Go to Patient Care; Regulate Rescissions; Foster a Public Insurer; Dis

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Health legislation heard in final policy committees before July break

By Hanh Kim Quach
Health Care Policy Coordinator
Health Access California

With tomorrow's deadline for legislation to have cleared policy committees in the second house, lawmakers heard a battery of bills this past week. Key pieces of legislation of interest to health advocates were also on the agenda. Many of the bills advocates have been tracking passed.

Following is a list of the bills heard this week and the outcome. Additionally, you may visit the Health Access website, for a complete list of bills.

The following bills passed in Assembly Health Committee, chaired by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, on Tuesday:

* SB 1198 (Kuehl): DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: Would require group health plans and insurers to offer coverage for durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and shower seats. Support
* SB 1440 (Kuehl): CAPPING ADMINISTRATION AND PROFIT: Would set a minimum medical loss ratio – requiring every insurer to spend at least 85 percent of premiums on patient care. Would also require plans to report how much they spend on health care versus administration on each single product they offer. Support
* SB 973 (Simitian) PUBLIC INSURER: Would create a statewide public insurer, connecting existing regional, county-based health care plans, to compete with private health care plans and provide consumers more affordable coverage choices.
* SB 1300 (Corbett): CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSES: Would prohibit confidentiality clauses, which keep secret information on pricing and health care quality from consumers, in contracts between providers and insurers. Support
* AB 1351 (Corbett): DISTRICT HOSPITAL OVERSIGHT: Would require Attorney General oversight into transactions involving district hospitals. Support