Health and Safety Code section 127286
(a)
Commencing on January 1, 2027, health facilities, clinics, home health agencies, and hospices shall annually report to the department, on forms supplied by the department, whether all of their health care employees eligible for employer-sponsored health care coverage are eligible to receive coverage at the commencement of employment without a waiting period. If not all health care employees eligible for employer-sponsored health care coverage are eligible without a waiting period, the health facilities, clinics, home health agencies, and hospices shall additionally report the following on forms supplied by the department:(1)
If the same waiting period applies to all eligible health care employees, the length of the waiting period.(2)
If different waiting periods apply to different classifications of eligible health care employees, the length of the waiting period for each classification employed by the health facility, clinic, home health agency, or hospice.(b)
The information required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be collected for the following employee classifications:(1)
Physicians.(2)
Physician interns, residents, and fellows.(3)
Registered nurses.(4)
Licensed vocational nurses.(5)
Aides and orderlies.(6)
Medical assistants.(7)
Home health aides.(8)
Technicians and specialists.(9)
Clerical and other administrative staff.(10)
Environmental services and food staff.(11)
Management and supervision.(12)
All other employee classifications.(c)
The department shall provide the health facilities, clinics, home health agencies, and hospices the ability to report the waiting period information required under subdivision (a) in the following date ranges:(1)
Zero days.(2)
1 to 14 days.(3)
15 to 30 days.(4)
31 to 60 days.(5)
61 to 90 days.(6)
More than 90 days.(d)
The department shall, to the extent feasible, integrate the reporting obligation imposed pursuant to this section with existing reports that health facilities, clinics, home health agencies, and hospices are required to submit to the department to minimize any additional burden. Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section shall not apply to health facilities, clinics, home health agencies, and hospices that are not required to file reports with the department.(e)
The department shall post the information reported pursuant to this section on its internet website on at least an annual basis.(f)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1)
“Health facilities, clinics, home health agencies, and hospices” means all of the following:(A)
“Health facilities,” as defined by Section 1250, except that “health facilities” does not include facilities within the meaning of subdivisions (e), (h), (j), or (m) of Section 1250.(B)
“Clinics,” as defined by Section 1200.(C)
“Home health agencies,” as defined by Section 1727.(D)
“Hospices,” as defined by Section 1746.(2)
“Waiting period” means the number of days between the date of commencement of employment and the start date of employer-sponsored health care coverage eligibility.
Source:
Section 127286, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=127286. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
