veeto
Home
Bills
Influence
Feedback
hamburger
    Privacy PolicyResources
    © 2025 Veeto.
    AB-554
    Health & Public Health

    Health care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug products.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Prohibits health plans from requiring prior authorization for FDA-approved HIV prevention medications.
    • Eliminates all cost sharing for HIV prevention drugs and related pharmacy services.
    • Requires health plans to cover HIV prevention drugs through outpatient prescription benefits.
    • Takes full effect January 1, 2027 for individual and small group health plans.

    Summary

    Assembly Members Mark González and Haney's PrEPARE Act of 2025 revises health plan and insurer requirements for HIV prevention medications, eliminating prior authorization requirements and cost sharing for FDA-approved or CDC-recommended antiretroviral treatments.

    The legislation prohibits health care service plans and insurers from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or similar protocols that could delay access to HIV prevention medications. Plans must cover at least one therapeutically equivalent version without prior authorization, while providing access to other versions through exception requests. The bill specifically notes that long-acting medications with different durations are not considered therapeutically equivalent.

    Under the new requirements, both grandfathered and non-grandfathered health plans must provide coverage for preexposure prophylaxis without imposing cost sharing. The legislation also mandates coverage for HIV prevention medications furnished by pharmacists, including related testing and services. Plans must cover these medications under outpatient prescription drug benefits and may supply providers directly with non-self-administered treatments.

    The provisions exempt specialized dental and vision plans, Medicare supplement policies, and Medi-Cal managed care plans. For individual and small group health plans, the requirements take effect January 1, 2027. High-deductible health plans must comply with the cost-sharing provisions after a plan's deductible has been met, unless doing so would conflict with federal requirements.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1200
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 554 Mark González Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 17 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Chris WardD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Corey JacksonD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Greg WallisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    SB-427
    Health care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug products.
    February 2023
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 1 of 1 items
    Page 1 of 1

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Mark Gonzalez
    Mark GonzalezD
    California State Assembly Member
    Matt Haney
    Matt HaneyD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Scott Wiener
    Scott WienerD
    California State Senator
    Corey Jackson
    Corey JacksonD
    California State Assembly Member
    Greg Wallis
    Greg WallisR
    California State Assembly Member
    Chris Ward
    Chris WardD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 3, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6811079PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Prohibits health plans from requiring prior authorization for FDA-approved HIV prevention medications.
    • Eliminates all cost sharing for HIV prevention drugs and related pharmacy services.
    • Requires health plans to cover HIV prevention drugs through outpatient prescription benefits.
    • Takes full effect January 1, 2027 for individual and small group health plans.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Mark Gonzalez
    Mark GonzalezD
    California State Assembly Member
    Matt Haney
    Matt HaneyD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Scott Wiener
    Scott WienerD
    California State Senator
    Corey Jackson
    Corey JacksonD
    California State Assembly Member
    Greg Wallis
    Greg WallisR
    California State Assembly Member
    Chris Ward
    Chris WardD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Members Mark González and Haney's PrEPARE Act of 2025 revises health plan and insurer requirements for HIV prevention medications, eliminating prior authorization requirements and cost sharing for FDA-approved or CDC-recommended antiretroviral treatments.

    The legislation prohibits health care service plans and insurers from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or similar protocols that could delay access to HIV prevention medications. Plans must cover at least one therapeutically equivalent version without prior authorization, while providing access to other versions through exception requests. The bill specifically notes that long-acting medications with different durations are not considered therapeutically equivalent.

    Under the new requirements, both grandfathered and non-grandfathered health plans must provide coverage for preexposure prophylaxis without imposing cost sharing. The legislation also mandates coverage for HIV prevention medications furnished by pharmacists, including related testing and services. Plans must cover these medications under outpatient prescription drug benefits and may supply providers directly with non-self-administered treatments.

    The provisions exempt specialized dental and vision plans, Medicare supplement policies, and Medi-Cal managed care plans. For individual and small group health plans, the requirements take effect January 1, 2027. High-deductible health plans must comply with the cost-sharing provisions after a plan's deductible has been met, unless doing so would conflict with federal requirements.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Health
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1200
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 554 Mark González Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Health Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 3, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6811079PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 17 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Chris WardD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Corey JacksonD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Greg WallisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    SB-427
    Health care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug products.
    February 2023
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 1 of 1 items
    Page 1 of 1