(a) This section applies to a disability insurance policy that provides coverage for hospital, medical, surgical, or prescription drug benefits, excluding a specialized health insurance policy that provides coverage only for dental or vision benefits.

(b) (1) A disability insurance policy shall cover, without cost sharing and without prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, the costs of the following health care services to prevent or mitigate a disease when the Governor of the State of California has declared a public health emergency due to that disease:

(A) An evidence-based item, service, or immunization that is intended to prevent or mitigate a disease as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force that has in effect a rating of “A” or “B” or the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(B) A health care service or product related to diagnostic and screening testing for the disease that is approved or granted emergency use authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration, or is recommended by the State Department of Public Health or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(C) Therapeutics approved or granted emergency use authorization by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the disease.

(2) The item, service, or immunization covered pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall be covered no later than 15 business days after the date on which the United States Preventive Services Task Force or the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes a recommendation relating to the item, service, or immunization.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 545, Sec. 5. (SB 1473) Effective September 25, 2022.)