CA AB2418

Requires health care service plans and health insurers to permit prescription refills for less than the standard amount with prorated cost-sharing if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates synchronization of medication refill dates is in the patient's best interest, effective January 1, 2016.

Synchronization refills allowed only when: drugs are covered and authorized, patient has been on them for at least 90 consecutive days, drugs are from a single pharmacy, can be effectively split, and prescriber has not marked "No change to quantity" on the prescription.

Exceptions to synchronization requirements include drugs subject to controlled substance guidelines, industry shortages listed by the FDA, manufacturer restrictions, FDA-approved risk management strategies, or special network shortages.

Requires health care service plans and health insurers to allow early refills of covered topical ophthalmic products at 70 percent of the predicted days of use, effective January 1, 2016.

Clarifies that neither synchronization nor early refill provisions establish new mandated benefits or prevent application of deductibles or copayments.