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AB 1906

Health care coverage: home test kits.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Cecilia Aguiar-Curry

Starting in 2027, health plans, disability policies, and Medi-Cal must cover annual cervical cancer home test kits with provider referral, with no cost sharing.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 1906

Overview

AB 1906, introduced by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry for the 2025-2026 California Legislative Session, would require certain health coverage programs to explicitly cover annual cervical cancer screening using home test kits, upon a provider referral, starting in 2027. The bill spans three code sections (Health and Safety Code, Insurance Code, Welfare and Institutions Code) and aligns private insurance, Medi-Cal, and related delivery systems to ensure home-based screening is covered without cost sharing.

Purpose and Intent

  • Expand access to cervical cancer screening by authorizing coverage of annual cervical cancer screening home test kits (in addition to traditional in-clinic tests) when referred by a health care provider.
  • Phase in the new benefit across private health plans, disability/injury policies, and Medi-Cal, with no cost-sharing for the home test portion.
  • Ensure FDA-approved screening options (Pap test, HPV test, and other FDA-approved screening tests) remain covered when screening is performed or referred.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Health and Safety Code (Section 1367.66):

    • Post-2027: Health care service plans must cover an annual cervical cancer screening home test kit upon provider referral, with no deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or other cost-sharing.
    • The coverage also continues to include standard screening options (Pap test, FDA-approved HPV tests, and other FDA-approved tests) when referred.
    • Existing requirement for coverage of cervical cancer screening tests remains for plans (including non-home-test options).

  • Insurance Code (Section 10123.18):

    • Post-2027: Disability insurance policies and health insurance policies must cover annual cervical cancer screening home test kits upon provider referral, with no cost sharing.
    • Coverage to include Pap test, FDA-approved HPV tests, and other FDA-approved screening tests when referred.
    • The bill preserves existing limitations on requiring coverage for treatment or surgery beyond screening.

  • Welfare and Institutions Code (Section 14132.17):

    • Post-2027: Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) must cover annual cervical cancer screening home test kits upon provider referral, with no cost sharing for Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
    • Applies to both fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems.

  • General/Criminal Implication:

    • Violations by health care service plans could be criminal offenses, creating a state-mandated local program.
    • The act explicitly states no reimbursement is required for local agencies/school districts to implement changes, per Government Code guidelines.

  • Effective Date:

    • The home test kit coverage requirement would take effect for plans and policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
    • Medi-Cal coverage for home test kits would also be implemented on or after January 1, 2027, to the extent permitted by federal law.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Enrollees of health care service plans (private plans and specialized plans, excluding specialized plans for the mandated coverage), who would be eligible for home test kit screening without cost sharing upon provider referral.
  • Individuals with disability or comprehensive health insurance policies (private insurers) would gain access to no-cost-sharing home test kit cervical cancer screening upon provider referral.
  • Medi-Cal beneficiaries, including both fee-for-service and managed care, would receive coverage for home test kits with no cost sharing.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative Progress:
    • Referred to Health, then Appropriations suspense file; passed committees with strong support (e.g., Do Pass in Health/Appropriations stages).
    • Read second time and scheduled for third reading as of May 18, 2026.
  • Fiscal Notes:
    • The bill includes a no-reimbursement clause for local agencies, indicating the state does not expect to incur reimbursements for mandated local costs beyond changes to criminal penalties.

Summary of Impact

  • Expands access to cervical cancer screening by enabling at-home testing as a covered benefit, reducing barriers linked to clinic visits.
  • Eliminates cost-sharing for the home test kit component, potentially increasing utilization and early detection.
  • Aligns private insurance, Medi-Cal, and health plan requirements to standardize home-based screening options starting in 2027.
  • Maintains essential traditional screening options (Pap test, FDA-approved HPV tests) as part of the overall coverage for cervical cancer screening.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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