Bill > SB439

This bill extends the California Health Benefit Review Program (HBRP), a program run by the University of California that assesses proposed legislation related to health insurance benefits, through July 1, 2033. Currently, the program is set to become inoperative on July 1, 2027. The bill increases the annual assessment on health care service plans and health insurers from $2,200,000 to $3,200,000 to fund the program, covering fiscal years 2026-27 through 2032-33. The HBRP provides detailed analyses of proposed health benefit mandates or repeals, examining public health impacts, medical effectiveness, and financial consequences for various stakeholders, including state health insurance programs like Medi-Cal. The bill removes specific reference to the Healthy Families Program and requires the University of California to continue providing comprehensive written analyses of proposed health benefit legislation to legislative committees within 60 days of request. Because the bill involves increasing assessments on health insurers, it requires a two-thirds approval from both legislative chambers, as mandated by California's Constitution for measures that could result in higher taxes.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB439