AB 2613: Health care service plans: provider contract termination: notice.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act’s requirements a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan to notify an enrollee by United States mail at least 60 days before the termination date of a contract between a health care service plan and a provider group or a general acute care hospital to which the enrollee is assigned. If the plan reaches an agreement with a terminated provider after sending that notice, existing law requires the plan to offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider and to reassign the enrollee to another provider if the enrollee does not exercise that option.

This bill would additionally require a health care service plan to notify an enrollee by email or text message, as specified and only if the enrollee has opted in and provided their contact information, at least 60 days before the termination date of a contract between a health care service plan and a provider group or a general acute care hospital to which the enrollee is assigned. If the plan reaches an agreement with a terminating or terminated provider after sending the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to send written notice by United States mail and by email or text message, as specified and only if the enrollee has opted in and provided their contact information, to affected enrollees no later than 10 business days after department approval of the notice. If the agreement is to renew, enter into a new contract, or to not terminate their contract before the termination date in the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to notify enrollees that they will remain assigned to the provider. If the agreement is to renew, enter into a new contract, or to not terminate their contract after the termination date in the notice of termination, the bill would require the health care service plan to notify and offer each affected enrollee the option to return to that provider. The bill would require a health care service plan to submit these notices to the department for approval within 5 business days of reaching an agreement. Because a willful violation of these provisions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 18, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 306, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 18, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 4, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 27, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6721.).
5. August 27, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
7. August 24, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 21, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 4, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 3, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
11. June 29, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. June 25, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 24).