State-regulated private insurance plans are affected by the rule, which went into effect Jan. 1. It will also apply to Medicaid recipients down the road.
However, the regulation faces roadbumps amid its rollout. Some home tests still require federal approval and the state expects providers to delay prescribing at-home tests for another year, according to the Times.
The rule is one of several the state is taking to curb an ongoing rise in STDs.
California is also rolling out three other rules impacting payers in 2022:
1. The state seeks to allow children to add dependent parents and step-parents to their health plans, similar to how parents may add dependent children. The change will be made available during the Nov. 2022 open enrollment period.
2. Another bill codifies the Affordable Care Act’s protections against discrimination by large group health plans, and ensures the plans cover women’s reproductive services, cancer treatments, obesity care and other “medically necessary basic health care services.”
3. The state is requiring alcohol or drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities to provide minimum health insurance coverage to patients if the facility is a government contractor.
