An act to amend Section 1368.017 of 1399.849 of, and to add Section 1368.018 to, the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10965.3 of, and to add Section 10123.1992 to, the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.
Summary
AB 2165, as introduced, makes a technical, nonsubstantive change to existing California law governing behavioral health and wellness screening notices under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act. Current law requires health care service plans to send enrollees an annual written or electronic notice about the benefits of behavioral health and wellness screenings for children and adolescents ages 8 to 18, including information about depression and anxiety screening.
The bill does not appear to create a new mandate, expand eligibility, or change the substance of the notice requirement. Instead, it amends Health and Safety Code Section 1368.017 in a way described by the Legislative Counsel as technical and nonsubstantive. The provision continues to exclude Medi-Cal managed care plans contracting with the Department of Health Care Services from this notice requirement.
Impact
If enacted, AB 2165 would leave the underlying policy in place while making a minor statutory revision to Health and Safety Code Section 1368.017. The practical effect on health care service plans, enrollees, and Medi-Cal managed care would be minimal, because the bill does not change who must receive notice, what the notice must cover, or how often it must be provided. It would continue the annual notice obligation for health care service plans regarding behavioral health and wellness screenings for youth ages 8 to 18.
Sentiment
The available bill materials suggest a neutral or routine posture toward the measure. Because the bill is characterized as technical and nonsubstantive, there is no indication in the provided record of significant support or opposition, and no committee transcript or vote record is included showing controversy. The bill’s referral history to the Assembly Health Committee is consistent with a standard policy review rather than a high-conflict proposal.
Contention
No notable substantive points of contention are evident in the provided materials. The main issue appears to be the scope of the amendment itself: the bill is described as a technical cleanup to existing law rather than a policy change. Since the text preserves the annual notice requirement and the Medi-Cal managed care exemption, there is no visible dispute over coverage expansion, compliance burden, or program eligibility in the record provided.