CA SB524

Prohibits health care service plans and health insurers from engaging in "patient steering," defined as requiring enrollees or insureds to use specific pharmacies or limiting access to pharmacy providers owned or operated by the plan, insurer, or their affiliates.

Allows directing patients to specific pharmacies only when medically necessary due to special handling or clinical requirements that other network pharmacies cannot perform.

Permits health plans and insurers to offer financial incentives (such as reduced copays) to encourage use of particular pharmacies without violating the ban.

Exempts fully integrated delivery systems where enrollees primarily use plan-owned pharmacies but may still access any pharmacy in the network, and exempts self-insured multiemployer Taft-Hartley plans.

Establishes violations as crimes under Health and Safety Code Section 1367.44 (for health care service plans) and Insurance Code Section 10123.66 (for health insurers).