AB-1773 • 2026

Pharmacy benefit managers.

Crime Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Blanca Rubio
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how many inmates will be affected by the change in Medi-Cal eligibility rules, and there is no mention of updating the rules for inmate eligibility beyond making a technical change.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers

The bill requires the Department of Managed Health Care to maintain an online public website with information about licensed pharmacy benefit managers and makes a technical change to Medi-Cal inmate eligibility rules.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Managed Health Care to create and keep a public internet site that shows details like legal name, license number, and expiration date for each licensed pharmacy benefit manager starting in 2027 or when licensing is set up, whichever comes later.

Who It Names or Affects

Pharmacy benefit managers
The Department of Managed Health Care

Terms To Know

Medi-Cal: A health insurance program that helps low-income people pay for medical care.
Pharmacy benefit manager: A company that manages prescription drug benefits for health plans and insurers.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact date when licensing must start, only that it is after January 1, 2027 or when the process is set up.
It's unclear how many inmates will be affected by the change to Medi-Cal eligibility rules.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-02-10 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.
2026-02-09 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1773, as amended, Blanca Rubio.
Medi-Cal: prerelease services for inmates.
Pharmacy benefit managers.
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 requires a pharmacy benefit manager contracting with a health care service plan or health insurer to secure a license from the Department of Managed Health Care on or after January 1, 2027, or the date on which the department has established the licensure process, whichever is later.
This bill would require the department to
maintain a public internet website displaying specified information for each licensed pharmacy benefit manager, including, among other things, the legal name, license number, and license expiration date.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Act, and requires that implementation of CalAIM, set forth as provided by law and in the CalAIM Terms and Conditions, supports specified goals. Existing law makes a qualifying inmate of a public institution eligible, commencing no sooner than January 1, 2023, to receive targeted Medi-Cal services, limited to those services approved in the CalAIM Terms and Conditions for 90 days, as specified.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF