This bill mandates the inclusion of community-based organizations, local health jurisdictions, and doulas as qualified providers under the Medi-Cal program for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) trauma screenings. The Department of Health Care Services must file a state plan amendment and seek necessary federal approvals. Additionally, the department will update its websites to reflect the new provider qualifications and their eligibility for payments for ACEs screenings.

This bill extends existing laws that regulate the distribution of hypodermic needles and syringes to adults, allowing designated assistants of doctors and pharmacists to provide these supplies. It amends the public health approach to minimize harm associated with needle sharing.

AB 45 prohibits the use of geofencing technologies to collect or sell personal data near healthcare centers without service-related necessity, enforcing penalties for violations. It also restricts the dissemination of abortion-related medical information when facing external legal mandates from states with conflicting laws. These measures aim to reinforce California’s commitment to reproductive privacy rights, bolstering protections under the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act.

AB 50 revises pharmacy rules by limiting protocol adherence to prescription-only hormonal contraceptives, allowing pharmacists to issue over-the-counter contraceptives freely. It allows dispensing up to a 12-month supply upon patient request, aiming to improve contraceptive accessibility as an immediate-effect urgency statute.

AB 54, the Access to Safe Abortion Care Act, addresses the use of medication abortion via mifepristone and misoprostol. It reaffirms the legality of distributing and administering these drugs in California, aligning with state laws that protect abortion rights before fetal viability. The bill ensures no civil or criminal liability for accessing or providing these medications retroactively from January 1, 2020.

AB 55 revises standards for licensing and Medi-Cal reimbursement of alternative birth centers. It eliminates the requirement for these centers to be certified as comprehensive perinatal service providers, shifting instead to a mandate for comprehensive service provision. A new written policy for hospital transfers is required, covering referral and transfer arrangements, medical records, estimated transfer times, and emergency plans. This change is intended to lower regulatory barriers while enhancing healthcare access.

This bill aims to establish a Black Mental Health Navigator Certification by requiring the Department of Health Care Access and Information to develop criteria and specialized training requirements for this certification. Additionally, the department is tasked with collecting and publishing annual data on the number of individuals certified and employed as community health workers, contingent upon legislative appropriation.

Bill AB 92, known as Dianne’s Law, mandates that health facilities allow visitation from certain individuals, including a patient's children and grandparents. In situations where visitation is restricted, facilities must establish alternate protocols to facilitate visits as much as possible while ensuring safety. The bill prohibits facilities from denying in-person visitation during end-of-life scenarios unless the patient expressly requests it. Additionally, it requires facilities to provide necessary personal protective equipment and testing resources to visitors, enhancing access while maintaining health and safety standards.

AB 220 requires health facilities to submit specified forms with treatment authorization requests for both pediatric and adult subacute care services under Medi-Cal. This aims to standardize authorization and prevent managed care plans from using different criteria to define medical necessity. The legislation prohibits additional requests for authorization after a patient returns from a bed hold for acute hospitalization. It allows the State Department of Health Care Services to enforce the provisions through sanctions on non-compliant managed care plans.

AB 224 proposes the establishment of a new health benefits benchmark by 2027, focusing on revising essential health benefits. This benchmark will potentially include additional requirements like fertility services and durable medical equipment coverage, contingent upon federal approval. The legislation aims to ensure that current benchmarks remain effective only up until the 2027 transition.

AB 225 ensures health providers, hospitals, and systems do not charge facility fees for outpatient services or telehealth, with administrative penalties for violations. Providers must reimburse patients if fees were charged improperly. Insurers are prohibited from covering or transferring these fees to policyholders. The legislation specifies that local governments have no obligation for additional state-reimbursed costs due to this policy.

AB 228 mandates that school districts, county offices, and charter schools provide at least one type of FDA-approved epinephrine delivery system for emergencies. It replaces current references to auto-injectors and establishes requirements for self-administration by pupils with the necessary documentation. The bill also includes provisions for state reimbursement if additional local agency duties are imposed and states an urgency for immediate enactment.

AB 242 requires the State Department of Public Health to expand genetic disease screening of newborns to include Duchenne muscular dystrophy by January 1, 2027. The bill amends existing law to allow the Genetic Disease Testing Fund to finance this expansion, ensuring costs remain covered by fees from newborn screening tests. This enhances California’s genetic disease testing program and aims to improve early detection and intervention for affected newborns.

AB 257 mandates health care service plans and insurers to ensure reimbursement for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits. It specifies that telehealth encompasses various modalities, including video and audio-only consultations. The bill addresses the need for clear guidelines and standards to enhance access to care through telehealth, especially for underserved populations and during health emergencies.

AB 260 improves access to reproductive health by repealing unconstitutional abortion laws and providing protections for the distribution of medication like mifepristone. It prevents discrimination against practitioners following California's healthcare protocols and supports telehealth to enhance service accessibility. The bill opposes external legal influences that conflict with California's reproductive health provisions and mandates that insurers cover mifepristone, even for non-FDA-approved uses, when specified requirements are met.

AB 277 requires those providing behavioral health treatment in centers, facilities, or programs to undergo background checks. This expansion of the unlawful disclosure of criminal history will impose a state-mandated local program. It also specifies that no reimbursement is required by the state, ensuring rigorous oversight and compliance to protect minors from potential risks.

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 281 requires school districts to allow parents or guardians to inspect and copy educational materials related to comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education. It mandates notification of parents about such programs and their rights to access information concerning outside consultants or guest speakers involved in instructing students. The bill recognizes certain mandates do not require reimbursement unless determined otherwise by the Commission on State Mandates.

AB 290 requires the California FAIR Plan Association to implement an automatic payment system by April 1, 2026. This system is designed to handle insurance premiums, ensuring equal payment processing across all methods. Additionally, policies cannot be canceled due to non-enrollment in automatic payments, and a 10-day grace period for overdue premium payments is included for added consumer protection.

AB 298 prohibits large group health care service plans and policies from imposing deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or other cost-sharing for in-network services to individuals under 21, starting January 1, 2027. It also bans billing or seeking reimbursement for these services. Violating these provisions constitutes a crime, resulting in a state-mandated local program. The bill specifies no reimbursement is required for local agencies and school districts concerning these state mandates.

AB 315 recasts existing provisions related to the Medi-Cal program, specifically the Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver. It mandates the enrollment of all eligible applicants and requires the Department of Health Care Services to seek amendments to accommodate those on the waiting list by March 1, 2026. Additionally, a rate study must be submitted to assess the sustainability and effectiveness of service payment methods under the waiver, enhancing care management for at-risk individuals.

AB 316 establishes that developers and users of artificial intelligence systems cannot use the defense that AI itself is responsible for causing harm. This legislation, effective for AI systems publicized post-January 1, 2022, compels the disclosure of data utilized in AI training, enhancing transparency and accountability.

AB 346 redefines "licensed health care professional" in the IHSS program to include any individuals performing acts subject to licensure under specific Business and Professions Code provisions. It mandates certification from healthcare professionals for those seeking paramedical services, ensuring applicants and recipients receive necessary in-home support, thus helping to avoid institutionalization.

AB 348 outlines criteria for presumptive eligibility for full-service partnerships, specifically focusing on individuals with serious mental illness transitioning from incarceration. Enrollment is conditional based on funding, capacity, and recommendations from licensed behavioral health clinicians. The bill ensures that a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder does not prevent eligibility.

AB 350 mandates that from January 1, 2027, health care service plans and insurance policies provide coverage for fluoride varnish applications as a pediatric oral care benefit without cost-sharing for children under 21. Additionally, this requirement extends to the Medi-Cal program, which will cover fluoride treatments as defined by the State Department of Health Care Services. The department is tasked with providing billing guidance by July 1, 2027. No reimbursement is mandated for local agencies or school districts due to this statute.

AB 356 mandates the Department of Health Care Access and Information to form a working group focusing on health service delivery improvements in northern San Diego. The group will report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by June 1, 2026. This provision is set to expire on June 1, 2030.

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 371 mandates that health care plans offer urgent dental appointments within 48 hours, nonurgent ones within 18 business days, and preventive appointments within 20 business days. It requires noncontracting dental providers to be reimbursed directly through a written assignment of benefits from the insured. Plans must notify enrollees of payments made to noncontracting providers and ensure geographic accessibility standards for dentists. Additionally, comprehensive reporting on the networks served by dental providers is required.

AB 375 modifies the Medical Practice Act to include qualified autism service paraprofessionals as health care providers. This facilitates autism-related health care service delivery, aligning it with telehealth provisions. The bill also specifies that no state reimbursement is required under certain conditions.

AB 384, known as the California Mental Health Protection Act, will prohibit health care plans and insurance policies from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary 24-hour inpatient admissions for mental health and substance use disorders, effective January 1, 2027. It applies to the Medi-Cal program and empowers the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care to impose penalties for violations. The bill also ensures no reimbursement is necessary from local agencies for compliance with its provisions.

AB 403 requires the State Department of Health Care Services to conduct an annual analysis of community health worker (CHW) services within Medi-Cal. This analysis will evaluate outreach and education efforts, focusing on the capacity of CHWs to meet the needs of Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The findings, disaggregated by sociodemographic factors, must be published online and submitted to the Legislature starting July 1, 2027, aimed at improving healthcare access and culturally appropriate service delivery.

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.

This bill targets a growing concern for artists, writers, musicians, and other creators: whether their copyrighted work was used without permission to train AI systems. It requires companies that build generative AI models to set up a system on their website where copyright owners can submit information—like registration numbers—about their work and ask whether it was used in training. Developers would then have 30 days to check and respond with a list of any covered materials used. Companies must keep records of these requests, and each day they're late responding past the 30-day window counts as a separate violation. If a developer doesn't comply, copyright owners who followed the proper request process can sue, though the developer gets a chance to fix the problem first. The bill carves out exceptions for models trained solely on data that's freely available to the public, and it protects telecom, internet, and cable providers from being held liable under these rules. Overall, this gives creators a real tool to find out if their work was used in AI training and hold developers accountable if they refuse to say.

AB 416 revises commitment protocols to authorize emergency physicians to detain individuals due to mental disorders if they present a danger to themselves or others. It mandates counties to incorporate emergency physicians in the commitment process, providing legal protections and aligning them with peace officers and crisis teams for swift mental health crisis interventions.

AB 423 requires the State Department of Health Care Services to implement regulations for discharge and continuing care planning in alcohol and drug treatment facilities. It mandates that licensees develop plans to assist patients returning to their communities and schedule follow-up meetings with mental health or substance use disorder professionals within seven days post-discharge.

AB 432 establishes requirements for medical education and insurance coverage related to menopause management. Physicians must complete continuing education in perimenopause and postmenopausal care and earn two hours of credit per hour of coursework. From January 1, 2026, health plans must cover treatments for menopause symptoms and provide annual hormone therapy guidelines to primary care providers.

AB 447 permits healthcare providers to dispense unused portions of non-controlled dangerous drugs from hospital pharmacies to emergency room patients at discharge. This ensures continuity of care without additional prescription barriers, facilitating prompt access to necessary medications. The bill includes exemptions for certain automated drug systems used in emergency settings from licensing requirements, streamlining medication distribution processes for improved patient care.

AB 489 aims to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence in health care communications that could mislead patients about the authority or credentials of their health care providers. The bill mandates that any patient-facing AI communication must include a disclaimer about AI involvement and instructions for contacting human providers. It establishes that violations, such as using terms implying a licensed human provides care, fall under the jurisdiction of relevant health boards, with each incident treated as a distinct violation.

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 512 revises current regulations by requiring health care service plans to decide on prior or concurrent authorization requests within 3 business days for electronic submissions, and 5 days for non-electronic ones. Urgent requests must be processed within 24 hours electronically, and 48 hours otherwise. These changes exclude Medi-Cal managed care plans. Violations by health care service plans can incur criminal charges.

AB 517 modifies Medi-Cal provisions by prohibiting prior authorization for repairs of CRT-powered wheelchairs costing up to $1,250. It eliminates the need for medical necessity documentation if the wheelchair is already authorized. Suppliers must document repair details subject to audit, ensuring compliance with CRT provider standards and enhancing access to necessary repairs.

AB 529 modifies the Pharmacy Law by extending the duration for which the California State Board of Pharmacy can waive certain regulations during emergencies. The waiver period is extended from 90 to 120 days post-emergency declaration, facilitating better public health and patient care amid and following emergencies.

AB 533 extends authority to all health care districts in California to utilize the design-build procurement method for constructing hospital facilities. This aims to improve efficiency and streamline project delivery. The bill increases the scope of legal accountability by expanding the crime of perjury related to design-build submissions without providing for state reimbursement of costs incurred by local entities.

AB 534 specifies that transitional housing placement providers will have a 3-year initial contract term renewable for two 1-year extensions. After these, additional renewals can be for 10-year terms. It allows counties to terminate contracts with 90 days' notice, enhancing flexibility in managing local housing programs.

AB 536 mandates health care service plans to provide no-cost coverage for colorectal cancer screening tests rated A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. It specifies that coverage must extend to colonoscopies when results indicate a positive screening. These provisions aim to improve early detection and preventive care for colorectal cancer, thus enhancing overall patient health and reducing future treatment costs.

This bill addresses a common frustration in healthcare: prior authorizations that expire before treatment is complete. Under this bill, once a health insurer or health plan approves a prior authorization for a service requested by an in-network provider, that approval must stay valid for as long as the treating doctor says the course of treatment requires, guaranteeing at least one year of validity if the treatment period is shorter than that. This prevents patients from having to seek re-approval mid-treatment, which can delay care or disrupt ongoing medical plans. Because health plans that violate this requirement could face criminal penalties under existing law, the bill technically creates a state-mandated program, though the state will not reimburse local agencies for any resulting costs.

AB 543 establishes provisions for integrating field medicine within the Medi-Cal program for homeless individuals, enabling them to receive services from field medicine providers regardless of network affiliation. The bill improves data-sharing between managed care plans and state departments, allowing beneficiaries to declare their homelessness status during application processes. It mandates care coordination to prevent service duplication and introduces a homelessness status question on insurance forms by 2027.

AB 546 compels large group health insurance plans to cover portable HEPA purifiers for pregnant individuals or those diagnosed with asthma or COPD in wildfire-affected emergency areas. Starting January 1, 2026, the purifier's cost is capped at $500, subject to inflation adjustments. Violations constitute a criminal offense, creating a state-mandated local program. The bill provides that no state reimbursement is needed for specified costs, and it intends to take immediate effect as an urgency statute.

AB 547 creates a nonrefundable personal income tax credit of up to $5,000 for qualified in vitro fertilization expenses, applicable for tax years 2025 through 2029. Recipients must meet eligibility criteria, and the credit cannot exceed incurred expenses. The bill also requires reports to detail tax credit utilization and fulfillment of program purposes, ensuring accountability and data-driven assessment of tax expenditure impacts. This measure is operative for a limited period before automatic repeal.

AB 551 establishes the Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program to improve access to reproductive and sexual health care in California's emergency departments. The Department of Health Care Access and Information is tasked with granting funds in collaboration with local organizations. The bill outlines minimum standards for care, funding allocation, and grant procedures, with provisions set to expire on January 1, 2030.

AB 554 mandates health plans to cover antiretroviral drugs and devices for HIV prevention without prior authorization, step therapy, or cost-sharing, with an exemption for Medi-Cal and delayed implementation for small plans until 2027. Violations are criminal, creating a state-mandated local program.

AB 567 mandates state payment for annual increases in residential property insurance rates exceeding either 7% or the national average. By March 31, 2026, the Department of Insurance must report on regulatory improvements targeting efficiencies to maintain rates. Additionally, the bill temporarily establishes a 0% gross premiums tax for residential insurance policies effective January 1, 2026, with provisions expiring on January 1, 2030.

AB 574 stipulates that health care service plans and insurance policies must not require prior authorization for the first 12 physical therapy visits starting January 1, 2027. It requires physical therapy providers to confirm coverage and inform patients of any costs not covered. These changes do not apply to Medi-Cal managed care plans, and no reimbursement to local agencies is required due to state-mandated changes.

AB 575 mandates that health care plans covering outpatient prescription drugs provide coverage for at least one anti-obesity medication and intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, effective January 1, 2026. This requirement removes the need for prior authorization before obtaining these services. Additionally, violations of this act are deemed criminal, establishing it as a state-mandated local program while exempting the state from reimbursement responsibilities for local agencies affected.

AB 577 seeks to prevent health care service plans, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers from requiring patients to use retail pharmacies for oral medications. Additionally, the bill prohibits discriminatory practices against physicians related to dispensing medications. Willful violations are classified as crimes, and the bill establishes a state-mandated local program while stating that no reimbursement is required for these mandates.

AB 582 proposes to amend the Administrative Procedure Act, which regulates the procedures for adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies. The bill intends to make a nonsubstantive revision to the currently existing provisions, ensuring clarity and precision in the regulatory process. Its status is pending referral in the legislative process.

AB 594 mandates that student health insurance policies comply with individual insurance standards starting January 1, 2024, incorporating essential health benefits and out-of-pocket maximums. By July 1, 2026, students may terminate their insurance upon graduating or dis-enrolling with a 30-day notice. Coverage waivers are available if other essential insurance is secured. The Department of Insurance may block rate changes if timelines are missed, enforcing penalties up to $5,000 per violation.

AB 618 requires Medi-Cal managed care and behavioral health services to share data electronically to improve care coordination. It sets standards for data sharing, ensuring compliance with privacy laws, with final guidelines due by January 1, 2027 .

AB 627 revises the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act by removing the two-year interest cap on working capital loans and eliminates the requirement for nonprofits to repay these loans within 24 months. It mandates the assessment of financial eligibility based on creditworthiness, expanding the financial foundation's uses.

AB 636 aims to expand Medi-Cal benefits to include diaper supplies for children over three years diagnosed with incontinence-related conditions and for individuals under 21 when deemed necessary for treatment. The amount of supplies will be based on the individual's age and medical needs. The implementation of this benefit is contingent upon obtaining necessary federal approvals and legislative appropriations.

AB 645 requires public safety agencies by January 1, 2027, to provide prearrival medical instructions for 911 calls involving medical emergencies. It emphasizes airway and choking instructions for all ages, as well as naloxone administration for opioid overdoses. Prearrival instructions must align with medical protocols approved by local EMS directors, enhancing emergency response effectiveness.

AB 659 aims to clarify the use of professional titles in communications and advertisements by individuals holding a Master of Divinity. It specifically restricts the display of titles such as “MDiv” or “M.D.i.v.” unless they are clearly distinguishable from "MD" or "M.D." Violations will not incur criminal penalties but are prohibited in a manner that avoids misleading implications about medical qualifications.

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 682 requires health care service plans and insurers to report specified claims and prior authorization data annually on their websites starting February 1, 2026, for plans, and February 1, 2028, for insurers. It authorizes administrative penalties for non-compliance and requires the data to be publicly accessible by April 15 each year to promote transparency and accountability.

AB 687 enables up to 35 noncommercial wildfire fuel reduction projects annually in timberlands, each under 1,500 acres, funded partly or fully with public money, to prepare a timber harvesting plan rather than undergoing full CEQA review. These projects are governed as timber operations under existing laws, and the bill sets a repeal date of January 1, 2031. It specifies there is no requirement for state reimbursement to local agencies for costs incurred.

The Telehealth for All Act of 2025, encapsulated in AB 688, requires the State Department of Health Care Services to use Medi-Cal and other available data to produce a publicly accessible telehealth utilization report every two years starting in 2028. The reports will evaluate telehealth access and utilization across geographic, demographic, and social determinants of health categories, identifying disparities. This initiative aims to increase awareness of telehealth usage patterns, address access barriers, and guide future policy developments.

AB 725 establishes a regulatory framework for source plasma donation centers, requiring them to secure licensing from the State Department of Public Health. It allows centers to compensate donors and mandates inspections to ensure compliance with health standards. Additionally, the bill classifies violations as misdemeanors and requires local health officers to expunge certain donor records related to reactive HIV tests. It also addresses the collection of fees for funding regulatory costs while providing exemptions from some blood bank statutes.

AB 804 aims to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit when appropriated by the Legislature. It seeks to eliminate the necessity for a network adequacy analysis and instead mandates the Department of Health Care Services to seek federal approval. Eligible beneficiaries would include those experiencing homelessness or at risk of it, with services encompassing housing transition navigation, deposits, and tenancy sustaining assistance. The department would implement necessary arrangements to comply with federal requirements for approval.

AB 843 requires health care service plans and insurers to provide language assistance services, including interpreters and translators, to patients with limited English proficiency. It prohibits plans from charging patients for interpreter costs and establishes compliance requirements for remote interpreting services. The bill outlines penalties for non-compliance and specifies documents that must provide language assistance notices.