We’re dedicated to providing objective legislative analysis
Established in 2002 to implement the provisions of its authorizing statute, the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP) responds to requests from the State Legislature to provide independent analysis of the medical, financial, and public health impacts of proposed health insurance benefit-related legislation. Frequently, CHBRP analyzes proposed health insurance benefit mandates (i.e. requirements to cover a test, treatment, or service).
A team of analytic staff at the University of California, Berkeley works with a task force of faculty and researchers from several campuses of the University of California, as well as actuarial consultants to complete each analysis during a 60-day period, usually before the Legislature begins formal consideration of a mandate bill. A strict conflict of interest policy ensures that the analyses are undertaken without financial or other interests that could bias the results.
A National Advisory Council, made up of experts from outside the state of California and designed to provide balanced representation among groups with an interest in health insurance benefit-related legislation, reviews draft analyses to assure their quality before they are transmitted to the Legislature. Each analysis summarizes sound scientific evidence relevant to the proposed legislation but does not make recommendations, deferring policy decision-making to the Legislature. The State funds this work through a small annual assessment of health plans and insurers in California.
All CHBRP analyses and the legislation they examine are available under Completed Analyses, as well as how amendments may impact the relevance of CHBRP's analyses. New requests from the Legislature are announced on the Recent Requests page and provides instructions about how interested parties can submit evidence they believe CHBRP should consider in its analyses. CHBRP documents how CHBRP does its work under Analysis Methodology and produces a number of resources, issue briefs, explainers, and policy snapshots.
How you can submit information
All interested parties who believe they have scientific evidence relevant to CHBRP's analysis of proposed health insurance benefit mandates as described in CHBRP's authorizing statute are encouraged to provide that information to CHBRP's staff. In order for CHBRP to meet its statutory 60-day deadline for its analyses, however, it must receive this information within 14 days of announcing a legislative request on this website at Recent Legislative Requests.
This page will indicate the exact date by which all such evidence must be received to be included in CHBRP's analysis. Instructions for submitting evidence to be considered as part of CHBRP's analysis are provided below:
By U.S. Mail or Private Overnight Delivery
Garen Corbett, Director
University of California, Berkeley
California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP)
Berkeley, CA 94720-3116
By email
You can reach us at info@chbrp.org - please put “Attention Garen Corbett, RE: SB xxx” or “AB xxx” in the subject line.
If you have any questions, please contact CHBRP’s staff at 510-664-5306.