CA AB1645

Prohibits health care service plans and health insurers from imposing cost-sharing requirements for office visits associated with preventive care services and screenings, or for items and services integral to their provision, for contracts issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.

Requires large group health plans and large group insurance policies (effective January 1, 2024) and individual or small group plans and policies (effective January 1, 2025) to cover sexually transmitted infection screenings recommended by the CDC without cost-sharing, prior authorization, or frequency limits.

Prohibits plans and insurers from imposing limits on STI screening based on risk of infection, sexual behavior, sexual orientation, gender, or anatomical sites of screening.

Requires health care service plans and insurers to directly reimburse nonparticipating essential community providers for STI screening at the greater of average contracted rates or 125 percent of Medicare reimbursement rates.

Prohibits nonparticipating essential community providers from billing or collecting cost-sharing amounts from enrollees or insureds for STI screening or integral items and services.