The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) recently proposed regulations that would eliminate the requirement that health plans seeking licensure in California demonstrate that they have a sufficient number of contracted physicians to provide enrollees with adequate access to care. CMA believes that the regulations, intended to streamline the health plan licensure process, could negatively impact patients' access to care.

In comments submitted last week to DMHC, CMA reminded the department of the Knox-Keene Act's access-to-care requirements. "The Knox-Keene Act and its implementing regulations contain numerous requirements for enrollee access," wrote Aileen E. Wetzel of CMA's Center for Economic Services in the comments. "Enforcement of these laws is the first step toward achieving access to care by ensuring a sufficient number of physicians are able and willing to participate...so that patients can receive medically necessary services."

Click here to read CMA's comments.

Contact: Aileen E. Wetzel, 916/444-5532 or awetzel@cmanet.org.