Amino acid-based elemental formulas.

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. This bill would require specified health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies to provide coverage for the use of amino acid-based elemental formulas, regardless of the delivery method, for the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, as defined, when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the amino acid-based elemental formula is medically necessary. Because a willful violation of the bill's provisions relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the 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.