Bill > AB1770

This bill aims to enhance protections and transparency in arbitration processes for health care service plans and health insurers. It mandates that disclosures provided to individuals enrolled in health plans or insured by health insurers clearly state that parties can appeal arbitration decisions based on legal or factual errors made by the arbitrator, and these disclosures must be provided annually. Furthermore, by February 1, 2027, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) will establish a panel of qualified arbitrators, and all arbitrations between health plans and their members, or between insurers and their insureds, will be conducted by an arbitrator selected by the DMHC. The bill also requires health plans and insurers to cover the costs of the arbitrator and a court reporter for these proceedings, and the arbitrator must issue a detailed report within 30 days of the arbitration's completion. All arbitration-related documents will be preserved by the health plan or insurer for five years and provided to the DMHC, with most records being publicly accessible unless specific privacy protections are met. This legislation also clarifies that health insurers must follow the same arbitration selection and reporting requirements as health care service plans.

Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1770