Part ofHepatitis C →

AB 1843CALIFORNIASession 20252026

California AB 1843 bans prior authorization for hepatitis C treatment drugs

Original title: Communicable diseases: hepatitis C.

August 30, 2026

Hepatitis C Health Insurance Public Health Prescription Drugs California Law Communicablediseases hepatitisC

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Where This Stands

Currently Unknown. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Last action

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.May 7, 2026

Version history & redline

3 versions on file

Official version history is partial: 3 linked texts are unavailable or incomplete. Source links remain available below.

Comparing 02/11/26 - Introduced → 03/02/26 - Amended Assembly

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Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

The Frame

What this does

Patients diagnosed with hepatitis C will no longer face insurance-mandated delays for essential antiviral treatments, potentially increasing the speed at which they can begin curative therapy.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Hepatitis C patients

Patients will no longer be subject to prior authorization requirements for medically necessary direct-acting antiviral treatments.

Health care service plans

These entities must remove prior authorization requirements for specific hepatitis C drugs and face potential criminal liability for non-compliance.

Health insurers

These entities are prohibited from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary direct-acting antiviral drugs for hepatitis C.

What changed

Last recorded activity August 30, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

California AB 1843 prohibits health insurance plans and insurers from requiring for medically necessary used to treat hepatitis C. This change aims to streamline patient access to life-saving medication by removing administrative hurdles for doctors and patients.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

Patients diagnosed with hepatitis C will no longer face insurance-mandated delays for essential antiviral treatments, potentially increasing the speed at which they can begin curative therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this bill make all hepatitis C drugs available without prior authorization?

No. The bill prohibits for medically necessary , but allows insurers to still require it for certain therapeutically equivalent versions.

What happens if an insurance company violates this new rule?

Because the bill amends the Knox-Keene Act, a willful violation by a health care service plan is considered a crime.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Connected Entities

organizationDepartment of Managed Health Care“Regulates health care service plans under the Knox-Keene Act.”Map →

otherKnox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975“Existing law governing health care service plan regulation.”Map →

organizationDepartment of Insurance“Regulates health insurers.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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