California Insurers and Business Groups Push Affordability Campaign

September 9, 2025

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The California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) is leading an effort to raise awareness of the potential negative impacts of policy proposals under consideration by the state legislature with op-eds published in various newspapers in the state.

The California Businesses for Affordable Health Care (CABAH), a CAHP funded organization, recently highlighted an op-ed in Capitol Weekly by Michael Hedges, President of the California Small Business Association and founder of Pacific Trux. The op-ed sounded the alarm on how proposed health care mandates and state policy changes are threatening the affordability of employer-sponsored health insurance for small and mid-sized businesses.

CABAH also secured publication of a second op-ed authored by small business owner Lorraine Salazar this week in the Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Sacramento Bee, Merced Sun-Star, and SLO Tribune. Salazar’s op-ed discusses how state lawmakers are burdening small businesses with costly health care mandates.

legislation

Virginia and Hawaii Introduce PDAB Legislation

The Virginia Senate introduced a bill to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) to review drugs with a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of $60,000 or more per year or a WAC increase of $3,000 or more in any 12-month period. For drugs deemed to cause an affordability challenge, the legislation authorizes the PDAB to […]
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February 12, 2026

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Solutions

AHIP Shares Update on Plan Progress to Simplify Prior Authorization

AHIP shared progress on the voluntary, multi-year commitments made by AHIP, BCBSA, and leading health plans (including Cigna Healthcare) to streamline and simplify prior authorization. Health plans serving nearly 270 million Americans are participating in this initiative. The 2026 commitments took effect on Jan. 1 and include: reducing the scope of claims subject to prior […]
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February 12, 2026

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legislation

DOL Issues Proposed Rule on Improving Transparency into PBM Fees

Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First,” the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued a proposed rule that would require providers of PBM services and affiliated entities of brokerage and consulting services to disclose direct and indirect compensation to their self-funded ERISA fiduciary […]
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February 12, 2026

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