AB 278 mandates the Health Care Affordability Board to form a Patient Advocate Advisory Standing Committee by June 1, 2026. This committee must meet publicly at least four times annually to gather public comments. Additionally, it is required to include data from these meetings in its annual report to the board, thereby ensuring improved stakeholder engagement in health care affordability initiatives.

AB 280 requires health care plans and insurers to annually verify and remove inaccuracies in their provider directories. Directories must reach 60% accuracy by July 1, 2026, and 95% by July 1, 2029, with associated penalties. It ensures coverage based on directory inaccuracies and mandates efficient reinstatement processes for providers.

AB 360 seeks to improve health care access for patients experiencing menopause by ensuring they can consult qualified providers capable of offering effective treatments. It requires collaboration among state health entities to assess and report on medical education gaps related to menopause, fostering greater awareness and addressing care deficiencies. The aim is to enhance the quality of menopause-related health care in California.

AB 408 intends to authorize the Medical Board of California to develop a Physician Health and Wellness Program. This initiative is directed at supporting physicians with physical or mental health conditions that may impair their professional abilities. The program includes provisions for treatment, monitoring, and rehabilitation, prioritizing confidentiality and may involve grant funding from public or private sources.

AB 421 prohibits California law enforcement agencies from collaborating with immigration authorities or sharing information regarding enforcement actions within one mile of childcare facilities, places of worship, hospitals, or medical offices. It builds on existing protections under the California Values Act by expanding the zones where such collaboration is restricted. The bill imposes additional responsibilities on local law enforcement and ensures state reimbursement for mandated costs, should they arise. It is classified as an urgency statute to facilitate immediate implementation.

AB 481 permits individuals to assist in performing moderate or high complexity tests in clinical laboratories if they meet specified requirements under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The legislation requires direct and constant supervision by a licensed individual, who must be physically present during the activities. Additionally, the bill clarifies that no state reimbursement is mandated for local agencies regarding the implementation of these new provisions.

AB 510 requires that any appeal regarding a denial, delay, or modification of health care services based on medical necessity must be reviewed by a licensed physician of the same specialty as the provider. Reviews are to be completed within two business days or sooner if there's a serious health risk. If the timelines are not met, the request is automatically approved. The bill creates penalties for violations and establishes it as a state-mandated local program without reimbursement requirements for local agencies.

AB 511 seeks to regulate the practice of radiologist assistants by prohibiting individuals from presenting themselves as such unless they pass a designated examination and maintain current registration. The bill mandates that radiologist assistants operate solely under the supervision of a radiologist, restricting their autonomy in practice. It further stipulates the responsibilities of these assistants in communicating clinical observations exclusively to supervising radiologists, and clarifies that violations of the bill's provisions do not constitute a misdemeanor.

AB 539 requires that prior authorizations for healthcare services issued by health insurers or plans remain valid for at least one year from approval or for the duration of prescribed treatment if shorter. Willful violation of this mandate constitutes a crime, resulting in a state-mandated local program. Notably, the bill states that no reimbursement is necessary for the implementation of these requirements.

AB 601 directs child welfare agencies to adopt an alternative response for reports of general neglect, facilitating community support services. Mandated reporters, upon suspicion of general neglect, must refer cases to county welfare agencies utilizing this approach. The State Department of Social Services will develop training and guidelines for these reporters, auditing compliance among employers. The bill also mandates analysis of disparities within child welfare, requiring reports to the Legislature from 2027 to 2040 on these issues and support resource availability for families.

AB 669 aims to improve access to substance use disorder services by prohibiting medical necessity reviews for the first 28 days of inpatient and residential treatments. Starting January 1, 2027, it requires that outpatient prescriptions, deemed necessary by healthcare providers for substance use disorders, remain exempt from prior authorizations. It emphasizes preventing barriers to care while addressing compliance through legal measures.

AB 676 allows the Department of Health Care Services to waive interest on unrecovered overpayments made to healthcare providers if the overpayment occurred four or more years prior to the first demand for repayment. The decision to waive interest will be based on factors such as the financial impact on the provider and whether the overpayment resulted from policy changes or departmental errors not attributed to the provider.

AB 967 mandates the Medical Board of California to expedite the licensure process for applicants who pay an expedite fee. This fee is capped at $250 and designed to facilitate quicker licensing, particularly for those with existing licenses in other states or strong connections to the Armed Forces. This bill is set to enhance the efficiency of medical licensure while maintaining oversight by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

AB 980 mandates that managed care entities have a duty of care to ensure the provision of medically necessary health care services. It specifies that such services must align with community medical standards, and holds these entities liable for any harm resulting from the denial, delay, or modification of care that leads to substantial harm for subscribers or enrollees. The bill defines “medically necessary health care service” as legally prescribed treatments that are reasonable and consistent with established medical community guidelines.

AB 1196 mandates health facilities with emergency departments to provide necessary care for life-threatening conditions if qualified personnel and appropriate facilities are available. The bill updates regulations requiring surgical teams in cardiac surgeries to include at least one surgeon and two qualified personnel, with an emphasis on aligning state regulations with current medical standards by 2027. Additional provisions clarify that no reimbursement is obligated for local agencies under this act.

Commencing on January 1, 2026, AB 1328 stipulates that Medi-Cal reimbursement for nonemergency ambulance transportation shall equal the Medicare ambulance fee schedule, adjusted by the Geographic Practice Cost Index. The bill promotes maximizing federal funding participation and authorizes nonphysicians to certify medical necessity, modernizing record-keeping through GPS or digital mapping.

SB 29 extends the eligibility for recovering damages for a decedent's pain, suffering, or disfigurement during their lifetime until January 1, 2030. It introduces reporting requirements for plaintiffs who prevail in such actions, and allows all parties to provide information to the Judicial Council. The Judicial Council is tasked with reporting these findings until January 1, 2029.

SB 297 requires local health departments to enhance valley fever awareness and report annual case statistics. By 2028, adults in high-incidence areas should be offered screenings, with no penalties for providers failing to comply. Health insurance policies, from mid-2027, must cover screenings without cost-sharing, while Medi-Cal coverage awaits federal approval.

SB 363 mandates that by June 1, 2026, health care service plans and insurers must report annual statistics on claim denials and modifications. Reports must be disaggregated by care type and patient age. Insurers face penalties if a substantial number of denials are overturned in independent reviews. Exempt from this are Medi-Cal managed care plans. This enhances transparency in health coverage decisions.

SB 418 prohibits health care service plans from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, which includes gender identity. It requires these plans to provide up to a 12-month supply of FDA-approved prescription hormone therapy without imposing restrictions or additional costs. The bill also mandates cultural competency training for providers to better serve transgender, gender diverse, or intersex individuals, ensuring inclusive health care services.

SB 503 establishes regulations for health facilities using AI for patient communications, mandating disclaimers when AI is used and requiring access to human health providers. It further mandates the identification and mitigation of biased impacts in AI systems, with compliance reports required from 2027, aiming to enhance transparency and decrease the risk of biases in health programs.

SB 579 creates a working group focused on the integration of artificial intelligence within mental health care. This group is tasked with assessing various applications and implications of AI, including ethical considerations and potential benefits. The findings from this evaluation are to be documented in a report submitted to the Legislature, which will contribute to future policies and frameworks in mental health services.

SB 679 requires health care facilities and peer review bodies to submit annual reports to the Civil Rights Department and the Medical Board of California regarding the termination and privileges of physicians and medical residents. This includes data stratified by race and gender, with the Department required to publish the aggregated information online while ensuring no personally identifiable information is disclosed. Legislative findings regarding the necessity of data privacy protections are also included.