CaliforniaLaw bars prior approval for hepatitis C antivirals
Health plans and insurers must waive prior approval for medically necessary hepatitis C antivirals, with an exception for some equivalent versions and no plan rule for Medi-Cal managed care contracts.
What it does
Health plans and insurers must not require prior approval for medically necessary hepatitis C antivirals. They may require it for some equivalent versions if at least one qualifying version is covered without approval; Medi-Cal managed care contracts are excluded.
Argument forSome patients could get medically necessary hepatitis C antivirals without waiting for prior approval, though the rule does not cover Medi-Cal managed care contracts.
Argument againstSome patients might have fewer drug choices because plans and insurers may require approval for equivalent versions when they cover one qualifying version without approval.
More detail
Health care service plans and health insurers must not require prior approval for medically necessary direct-acting antiviral drugs used to treat hepatitis C. The rule covers health care service plans and health insurers, for medically necessary direct-acting antiviral drugs used to treat hepatitis C. A plan or insurer may require prior approval for some equivalent versions if the FDA has approved therapeutic equivalents of a pangenotypic hepatitis C treatment and at least one pangenotypic equivalent version is covered without prior approval. The health care service plan rule does not apply to Medi-Cal managed care contracts with the state.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 552, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 10Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31
- Vote recorded AB 1843 Elhawary Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 14. Page 6914.).Major
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1843 Elhawary By Wiener. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 30Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8.).Passed Senate
- Aug 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 26Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jun 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 24
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 9In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Jun 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- May 21In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1843 Elhawary Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 13. Page 5178.)Passed Assembly
- May 7Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 6From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 10. Noes 2.) (May 6).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- Mar 2From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.Major
- Feb 23Referred to Coms. on HEALTH, P. & C.P. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 12From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
- Feb 11Read first time. To print.Introduced
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