Retainer practices.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various healing arts practitioners. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. This bill would state various findings with respect to the use of retainer practices in which a patient enters into a direct relationship with a physician and pays the physician a fixed amount for primary care services. The bill would define a retainer practice and specify that such a practice is not subject to regulation as a health care service plan or a health insurer.