Health and wellness programs.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. The California Health Benefit Exchange is established in state government to facilitate enrollment of qualified individuals in qualified health plans. The State Department of Public Health is authorized to perform specified activities relating to the protection, preservation, and advancement of public health. This bill would require the Department of Managed Health Care, in collaboration with the Department of Insurance, the California Health Benefit Exchange, and the State Department of Public Health, to convene a special committee consisting of specified members to review and evaluate health and wellness incentive and rewards programs offered by health care service plans, health insurers, and employers. The bill would require the committee to evaluate these programs for effectiveness based upon scientific evidence and to examine the extent to which these programs may result in specified discrimination and would require the committee to discuss its findings in a final report submitted to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Health by March 30, 2014, as specified. The bill would require the committee to meet publicly and would require the first meeting to be conducted no later than March 30, 2013.