Attorney General No.
SA2003RF0028
Secretary of State No.
998
Description
ARBITRA TION. HEALTH CARE DISPUTES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Prohibits health care service plans from requiring alternative dispute resolution as a condition of enrollment, and permits voluntary participation only after written disclosure signed by each enrollee. Requires Department of Managed Health Care to establish panel of arbitrators, and randomly assign arbitrator to each case. Permits judicial appeal of arbitrator's decisions. Requires plans to submit reports to Department regarding completed arbitrations, litigation, and settlements, and maintain records for five years. Unless otherwise confidential, Department must make the records public on Internet and available at Department. Provisions also apply to health and disability insurance contracts. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased administrative costs to DMHC of up to $21 0,000 (one-time) and $250,000 (ongoing). Unknown increase in state and local government costs to the extent that enrollees in various health insurance products use litigation, instead of binding arbitration to resolve disputes with their health insurers.
Proponents
Charles Phillips, MD, 2216 E. Los Altos Avenue, Fresno, CA 93710, (559) 322-1446
Date
9-3-2003
Document Type
Initiative
Qualified
Failed to Qualify
Recommended Citation
ARBITRATION. HEALTH CARE DISPUTES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. California Initiative 998 (2003).
https://repository.uclawsf.edu/ca_ballot_inits/1154