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Committee advances bill requiring health plans to help consumers find in‑network providers amid industry concerns
Summary
AB 787 would require health plans to help enrollees find in‑network providers and set timelines for plan responses; supporters said directories are frequently inaccurate and harm patients, while plan representatives warned the measure is administratively burdensome.
Assemblymember (presented in transcript as Assemblymember Pappin) introduced AB 787 to require health plans to provide timely assistance to enrollees who need help finding in-network providers. The bill — as amended in committee — requires plans to acknowledge a request within one business day and to deliver a list of available providers within two business days for urgent requests and within five business days for nonurgent requests; patients would be able to designate urgency under the amendment adopted in committee.
Kate Van Dines of Health Access California testified in support and said provider directories remain "notoriously inaccurate," citing cases where consumers called dozens of listed providers only to find retired clinicians, disconnected numbers, or clinicians no longer accepting the insurance. A licensed marriage and family therapist described mental‑health patients who faced barriers and, in one example, a student who attempted suicide after failing to find an in‑network therapist.
Opposition witnesses representing health-plan and dental-plan industries said the bill created significant administrative burdens and that directories are only as accurate as information provided by participating providers. Nick Luisos of the California Association of Health Plans said his members share the goal of accurate directories but warned some bill provisions would impose new administrative costs; Matt Bach of the California Association of Dental Plans said adding dental to the bill raised concerns about cost and feasibility in a competitive, low-premium dental market.
Committee members and opponents debated enforcement and practicality. The bill author and committee negotiated timing amendments and language to allow plans some flexibility and to include disclaimers noting data currency. The committee moved to pass AB 787 as amended and refer it to the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Durazo moved the motion. The roll-call vote recorded the bill out of committee with 8 yes, 2 no, 0 abstentions according to the transcript.
Ending: Committee members urged continued negotiations between plans, providers and consumer advocates to refine operational details before the bill proceeds to later stages; the bill advanced to Appropriations for fiscal review.
