Bill > AB575

This bill requires health care service plans and health insurance policies in California to provide coverage, without prior authorization, for at least one FDA-approved glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medication and intensive behavioral therapy for treating obesity, starting January 1, 2026. The bill aims to address health equity issues by recognizing obesity as a complex chronic disease that disproportionately affects communities of color and is linked to numerous health complications. It seeks to remove barriers to obesity treatment, such as stigma and restrictive insurance coverage that previously only covered treatments for "morbid" or "severe" obesity. The legislation mandates that insurance providers cannot set coverage criteria for anti-obesity medications more restrictively than the FDA-approved indications, and allows insurers to apply standard medical necessity determinations. The bill does not apply to specialized health plans covering only dental or vision benefits, and it defines key terms like GLP-1RAs as medications that help lower blood sugar and promote weight loss. By requiring comprehensive obesity treatment coverage, the bill aims to improve health outcomes and reduce the significant economic and personal costs associated with obesity.

Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB575