CA AB 554
vetoedHealth care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug products.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did CA AB 554 pass?
No. CA AB 554 passed the legislature but was vetoed on 2026-01-22. Latest recorded action (2026-01-22): Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
What is CA AB 554 about?
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law generally prohibits a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer from subjecting antiretroviral drugs that are medically necessary for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, including preexposure prophylaxis or postexposure prophylaxis, to prior authorization or step therapy. Under existing law, a health care service plan or health insurer is not required to cover all the therapeutically equivalent versions of those drugs without prior authorization or step therapy if at least one is covered without prior authorization or step therapy. This bill, the Protecting Rights, Expanding Prevention, and Advancing Reimbursement for Equity (PrEPARE) Act of 2025, would instead prohibit a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer from subjecting antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are medically necessary for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, to prior authorization or step therapy, but would authorize prior authorization or step therapy if at least one therapeutically equivalent version is covered without prior authorization or step therapy. The bill would specify that, for therapeutically equivalent coverage purposes, a long-acting drug, drug device, or drug product is not therapeutically equivalent to a long-acting drug, drug device, or drug product with a different duration. The bill would require a plan or insurer that covers non-self-administered antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of HIV/AIDS as a medical benefit to also include those non-self-administered antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products as an outpatient prescription drug benefit. This bill would require a nongrandfathered health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide coverage for antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are approved by the FDA for HIV preexposure prophylaxis, and would prohibit a nongrandfathered health care service plan contract or health insurance policy from imposing any cost sharing for those drugs, drug devices, or drug products. The bill would prohibit a plan or insurer from imposing cost sharing on a nonformulary antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product that is approved by the FDA for HIV preexposure prophylaxis and is covered pursuant to an exception request if the nonformulary antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product is therapeutically equivalent to a formulary antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product that is approved by the FDA for HIV preexposure prophylaxis and is covered by the plan or insurer without cost sharing. The bill would exempt Medi-Cal managed care plans from these provisions. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors CA AB 554?
Mark González is the primary sponsor of CA AB 554, joined by 5 cosponsors.
Description
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law generally prohibits a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer from subjecting antiretroviral drugs that are medically necessary for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, including preexposure prophylaxis or postexposure prophylaxis, to prior authorization or step therapy. Under existing law, a health care service plan or health insurer is not required to cover all the therapeutically equivalent versions of those drugs without prior authorization or step therapy if at least one is covered without prior authorization or step therapy. This bill, the Protecting Rights, Expanding Prevention, and Advancing Reimbursement for Equity (PrEPARE) Act of 2025, would instead prohibit a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer from subjecting antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are medically necessary for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, to prior authorization or step therapy, but would authorize prior authorization or step therapy if at least one therapeutically equivalent version is covered without prior authorization or step therapy. The bill would specify that, for therapeutically equivalent coverage purposes, a long-acting drug, drug device, or drug product is not therapeutically equivalent to a long-acting drug, drug device, or drug product with a different duration. The bill would require a plan or insurer that covers non-self-administered antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of HIV/AIDS as a medical benefit to also include those non-self-administered antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products as an outpatient prescription drug benefit. This bill would require a nongrandfathered health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide coverage for antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are approved by the FDA for HIV preexposure prophylaxis, and would prohibit a nongrandfathered health care service plan contract or health insurance policy from imposing any cost sharing for those drugs, drug devices, or drug products. The bill would prohibit a plan or insurer from imposing cost sharing on a nonformulary antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product that is approved by the FDA for HIV preexposure prophylaxis and is covered pursuant to an exception request if the nonformulary antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product is therapeutically equivalent to a formulary antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product that is approved by the FDA for HIV preexposure prophylaxis and is covered by the plan or insurer without cost sharing. The bill would exempt Medi-Cal managed care plans from these provisions. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
- Introduced
- 2025-03-03
- Latest action
- 2026-01-22 — Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Mark Gonzálezauthor
- Walliscoauthor
- Haneyauthor
- Wienerprincipal coauthor
- Jacksoncoauthor
- Wardcoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2025-02-11
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
2025-02-12
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2025-02-24
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-03-03
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-03-04
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-04-30
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-05-14
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-05-23
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage
2025-05-23
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
2025-05-23
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-05-27
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-06-03
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 1. Page 2007.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-06-04
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2025-06-18
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-06-24
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-17
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-17
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 16).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2025-08-18
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-08-29
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (August 29).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-08-29
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-04
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-08
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-09
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 0. Page 2664.).
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-09
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-10
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 69. Noes 1. Page 3221.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-22
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
executive-receipt
2025-10-13
Vetoed by Governor.
executive-veto
2025-10-13
Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2026-01-22
Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
veto-override-failure
Versions
- 02/11/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-11Compare
- 03/03/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-03-03Compare
- 05/23/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-05-23Compare
- 06/24/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-24Compare
- 07/17/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-07-17Compare
- 09/04/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-09-04Compare
- 09/12/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-12Compare
- AB554Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
Documents
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Votes
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-29 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (16)
- Flora: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Krell: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Patel: yes
- Addis: yes
- Sanchez: other
- Chen: other
Do pass as amended.
2025-05-23 · pass · 11-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Calderon: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Hart: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Solache: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Fong: yes
- Ta: other
- Sanchez: other
- Dixon: other
- Tangipa: other
AB 554 Mark González Assembly Third Reading
2025-06-03 · pass · 68-1
Member-level votes (79)
- Berman: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Fong: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Haney: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Soria: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Papan: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Bains: yes
- Addis: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lee: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Patel: yes
- Ward: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Krell: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Davies: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Gipson: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Hart: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- DeMaio: no
- Ta: other
- Sanchez: other
- Tangipa: other
- Ellis: other
- Hadwick: other
- Castillo: other
- Lackey: other
- Flora: other
- Chen: other
- Dixon: other
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-07-16 · pass · 9-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Limón: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Valladares: other
- Grove: other
Placed on suspense file
2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
Do pass
2025-08-29 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Seyarto: other
3rd Reading AB554 Mark González et al. By Cabaldon
2025-09-09 · pass · 31-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Richardson: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Stern: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Becker: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Laird: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Limón: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Allen: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Niello: other
- Ochoa Bogh: other
- Grove: other
- Jones: other
- Valladares: other
- Seyarto: other
- Strickland: other
- Choi: other
- Alvarado-Gil: other
AB 554 Mark González Concurrence in Senate Amendments
2025-09-11 · pass · 69-1
Member-level votes (80)
- Ahrens: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Addis: yes
- Ward: yes
- Haney: yes
- Hart: yes
- Fong: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Bains: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Soria: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Berman: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Papan: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Lee: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Davies: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Krell: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Patel: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Garcia: yes
- DeMaio: no
- Johnson: other
- Dixon: other
- Hadwick: other
- Tangipa: other
- Lackey: other
- Sanchez: other
- Chen: other
- Castillo: other
- Flora: other
- Ta: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
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Attribution
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