Network Adequacy Standards in California: How They Work and Why They Matter
December 2021
Amy Y. Gu, Michele Ellson, Katherine L. Gudiksen
Health Care Costs
In California, both state and federal laws impose provider network adequacy standards on health plans to ensure that the plans provide meaningful access to health care for enrollees. Yet these standards may put plans at a competitive disadvantage when negotiating contracts with providers such as specialists in short supply. This issue brief outlines considerations for policymakers.