Bill Sponsor
California Assembly Bill 577
Session 20252026
Health care coverage: antisteering.
Active
Active
Failed in Assembly on Feb 2, 2026
First Action
Feb 12, 2025
Latest Action
Feb 2, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
577
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Author
Assembly Votes (1)
checkPassed on April 29, 2025
Motion Text
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Summary
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes the willful violation of its provisions a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs to cover medically necessary prescription drugs. For a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, this bill would prohibit a health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager from engaging in specified steering practices, including, among others, requiring an enrollee or insured to use a retail pharmacy for dispensing prescription oral medications, as specified, and imposing any requirements, conditions, or exclusions that discriminate against an in-network physician in connection with dispensing prescription oral medications. The bill would require a health care provider, physician's office, clinic, or infusion center to obtain consent from an enrollee or insured and disclose a good faith estimate of the enrollee's or insured's applicable cost-sharing amount before supplying or administering an injected or infused medication to an enrollee or insured, or sending an enrollee or insured to receive an injected or infused medication, if the setting or manner of administration is different than the setting or manner of administration for which the health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager directed the enrollee or insured, as specified. Because a willful violation of these provisions relative to health care service plans 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.
Actions (13)
02/02/2026
Assembly
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
01/31/2026
Assembly
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
01/22/2026
Assembly
In committee: Set, second hearing. Held under submission.
05/23/2025
Assembly
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
05/05/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
05/01/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended.
04/30/2025
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 29).
04/22/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
04/21/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
02/24/2025
Assembly
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
02/13/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
02/12/2025
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 13, 2025 5:57:58 AM
Record Updated
Feb 3, 2026 8:37:30 AM