First Patient Protection Bills Up in Committee Next Week

UPDATE: The hearing for these bills has been pushed backed to a later date. Stay tuned for more information. (3/25/2016)

When the Legislature comes back from Spring Break next week, the Senate Health Committee will be hearing two consumer protection bills, SB 908 and SB 1135 on Wednesday, March 30. Both of these bills are sponsored by Health Access California.

Unreasonable Rates: Notice/Opportunity to ShopSB 908 (Hernandez) requires individuals and small business owners be notified if the premium for a plan they choose is “unreasonable” and “unjustified” and be given a new open enrollment opportunity to potentially find a new plan.

Notification of Consumer Rights: SB 1135 (Monning) requires health plans and insurers to notify consumers and health care providers about patients’ right to timely care and language assistance. Also requires insurers to include the toll-free number for the consumer call centers of the Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Insurance on consumers’ insurance cards.

Please consider writing a letter in support of these bills. Letters of support are due this Wednesday. You can find samples letters of support as well as other bill information here.