Bill Sponsor
California Assembly Bill 1429
Session 20252026
Behavioral health reimbursement.
Active
Active
Failed in Assembly on Feb 2, 2026
First Action
Feb 21, 2025
Latest Action
Feb 2, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1429
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
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, 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 a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2021, to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, as defined, under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions. This bill would require the plan, as defined, to fully reimburse an enrollee who incurs out-of-pocket costs for behavioral health care services obtained from nonplan providers or facilities or mental health prescription medication obtained from a nonplan pharmacy or nonplan provider on or after May 1, 2022, until the department certifies to the Legislature that the plan has successfully completed implementation of the corrective action work plan resulting from its 2023 settlement agreement with the department. The bill would require an enrollee to submit specified documents for reimbursement and would require the plan to pay the reimbursement within 60 calendar days of an enrollee's submission of documented expenses. If the plan fails to provide this reimbursement, the bill would require it to pay the original amount plus 10% per annum interest to the enrollee, as well as a $5,000 fine per incident. The bill would require the plan to establish specified procedures, and would require the plan to submit a monthly report to the department with specified information. Because a willful violation of the bill's provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the specified plan. 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 (14)
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.
05/23/2025
Assembly
In committee: Held under submission.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. 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 1.) (April 29).
04/21/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
04/03/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
04/02/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
03/13/2025
Assembly
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
02/24/2025
Assembly
Read first time.
02/22/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
02/21/2025
Assembly
Introduced. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 22, 2025 5:58:21 AM
Record Updated
Feb 3, 2026 8:34:45 AM