As the second open enrollment period under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act continues, California Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) has introduced state legislation that outlines tougher rules for health plans in regard to PPACA physician lists, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
Under the proposed legislation, health plans would have to update provider lists on a weekly basis "and make them more widely available online to insurance shoppers," according to the report. The bill also requires state regulators "craft a standard format for directories to make the information simpler to use," the report reads.
Sen. Hernandez, along with several consumer groups, is seeking this legislation following complaints about PPACA physician networks, according to the report. The Los Angeles Times reported that the rollout of the PPACA in California was tainted by "consumer frustration over limited networks," as well as "the inability of many people to find a doctor who accepted their policy."
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