Department of Managed Healthcare Issues an All Plan Letter Requiring Full-Service Health Plans to Cover COVID-19 Vaccines

By Alex Ruf On December 11, 2020, Sarah Ream, general counsel for the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), issued an All Plan Letter to all full-service health plans regarding health care coverage of the new COVID-19 vaccine. The Department Continue reading

SB 48 Aims to Require Certain Physicians to Complete Four Hours of Continuing Medical Education for Dementia-related Treatment

By Jonathan Padua SB 48 (Limón), as introduced on December 7, 2020, and as it applies to the Medical Board of California (MBC), would amend section 2190.3 of the Business and Professions Code to require all general internists and family Continue reading

California Supreme Court Approves Expansion of Provisional Licensure Program

By Juan M. Villalvazo On January 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of California issued an order approving the State Bar of California’s proposed amendments to Rules 9.49 and 9.49.1 of the California Rules of Court to expand the Provisional Licensure Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Holds Hearing On Southern California Edison’s Execution of 2020 Public Safety Power Shutoffs; Proposes Additional Guidelines for Utilities to Minimize the Impact (R.18-12-005)

By Tristan Stidham On January 26, 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held a hearing to address Southern California Edison’s (SCE) continued Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). In a January 19, 2021 letter to SCE’s President and CEO Kevin Continue reading

Former Department of Business Oversight Files Order to Ban Eco Technology, Inc. from PACE Industry

By Stephanie Mendevil On May 27, 2020, the Department of Business Oversight (now Department of Financial Protection and Innovation) issued a Desist and Refrain Order to ban Eco Technology, Inc. from serving as a solicitor in California’s Property Assessed Clean Continue reading

New Laws Regarding Security Prescription Form Requirements and CURES Reporting

By Anna Schwartz On January 1, 2021, two laws imposing security prescription requirements on pharmacists and other licenses went into effect after nearly three years in the making. In September 2018, California first enacted AB 1753 (Low) (Chapter 479, Statutes Continue reading

Office of Administrative Law Approves Department of Managed Healthcare’s Proposed Emergency Regulation Regarding Transfer of Enrollees Pursuant to a Public Health Order

By Alex Ruf On January 12, 2021, the Department of Managed Healthcare (DMHC) published a notice of emergency rulemaking action with respect to its intent to adopt section 1300.67.02, Title 28 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), pertaining to Continue reading

Department of Managed Health Care Issues All Plan Letter to Ensure Health Plans Comply with New Law Regarding Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder

By Meena Kaypour On January 5, 2021, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) issued All Plan Letter APL 21-002 to all Commercial Full-Service Health Plans and Specialized Health Care Service Plans Offering Behavioral Health Services, entitled “Implementation of Senate Continue reading

California Public Utilities Commission Implements SB 676 Electric Vehicle Integration and Development (R.18-12-006)

By Rachel Rockwell On December 21, 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued D.20-12-029 to implement SB 676 (Bradford) (Chapter 484, Statutes of 2019) and promote vehicle grid integration (VGI) strategies as part of its ongoing rulemaking proceeding, (R.) Continue reading

New Law Allows Expedited Review of Contractor License Applications for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

By Sabrina Barr On January 1, 2021, AB 2113 (Low) (Chapter 186, Statutes of 2020) took effect.  The bill adds section 135.4 to the Business and Professions Code to require any board within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including the Continue reading