August 2023
Essential Health Benefits: Exceeding EHBs and the Defrayal Requirement
Paper that says Health Insurance Benefits with decorative flair beneath.

This issue brief is part of a two-brief series that provides background on EHBs in California. This issue brief focuses on defrayal. 

Issue Brief
August 2023
Essential Health Benefits: An Overview of Benefits, Benchmark Plan Options, and EHBs in California
Print out of a bar graph and line graph with person pointing a finger at bar graph on a wooden surface.

This issue brief is part of a two-brief series that provides background on EHBs in California. This brief focuses on EHBs. 

Issue Brief
December 2021
Medical Necessity Determination Process for Covered Benefits
A family of 4 wooden people covered by a mini red umbrella held by a human.

This issue brief discusses the medical necessity determination process, which may involve multiple clinicians, for enrollees in health plans and health policies regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) or the California Department of Insurance (CDI).

Issue Brief
November 2021
Balance Billing Prohibitions and the No Surprises Act
Blue clipboard that has a paper list with Medical Bill printed on it. A stethoscope and calculator are next to it.

This issue brief discusses laws and regulations that prohibit out-of-network (OON) providers from issuing surprise bills to enrollees in plans or policies regulated by DMHC or CDI.

Issue Brief
January 2021
Outpatient Prescription Drug Cost Sharing
Pill bottles with dollar bills in a sink.

This issue brief discusses cost sharing laws and limits that are applicable to outpatient prescription drug benefits regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and the California Department of Insurance (CDI). This brief also discusses pharmacy benefits, cost sharing, and the laws that are relevant to them.

Issue Brief
August 2020
Genetic Biomarker Testing and Prior Authorization
Biomedical assay results next to pipette dripping liquid into wells.

This issue brief includes background information on genetic biomarker testing for Californians with advanced cancer, and, where possible, the presence and the impact of prior authorization on such testing.

Issue Brief
December 2013
Pediatric Dental and Pediatric Vision Essential Health Benefits
Teddy bear wearing a purple stethoscope with a heart in its right paw.

This issue brief describes the choices California has made to comply with the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) pediatric dental and pediatric vision Essential Health Benefit (EHB) requirement.

Issue Brief
June 2012
Immunization Mandates, Benchmark Plan Choices, and Essential Health Benefits
4 Needles together on a purple background

This issue brief provides an example of how state benefit mandates could exceed Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) and how evidence-based analysis may inform discussions of whether to keep or repeal state benefit mandates that exceed EHBs, specifically looking at immunization coverage requirements.

Issue Brief
June 2012
Mammography Mandates, Benchmark Plan Choices, and Essential Health Benefits
Female doctor review mammogram results.

This issue brief demonstrates how state benefit mandates may exceed Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) and how evidence-based analysis of the impacts of such mandates may inform discussions of whether to keep or repeal them.

Issue Brief