CaliforniaHealth care coverage: dementia.
What it does
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act's requirements a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law prohibits specified health care service plan contracts and disability insurance policies from excluding persons covered by the plan from receiving benefits if they are diagnosed as having any significant destruction of brain tissue with resultant loss of brain function, including Alzheimer's disease.
More detail
This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to include coverage for all medically necessary treatments or medications, as determined by a health care provider, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other medical conditions affecting memory. On and after January 1, 2027, the bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from imposing step therapy protocols as a prerequisite to authorizing that coverage, except as provided. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 662, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 30Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5740.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB950 Weber Pierson et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 950 Weber Pierson Senate Third Reading By Stefani. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6373.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 19Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 19Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 6Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 5From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (June 30).Major
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 23June 23 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- May 26Referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- May 20In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- May 19Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4341.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB950 Weber Pierson et al. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 27From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4070.) (April 27).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Set for hearing April 27.
- Apr 20Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 16From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3901.) (April 15).Major
- Apr 15
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Set for hearing April 15.
- Feb 11Referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- Feb 3From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 5.
- Feb 2Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced