Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law Senate Bill 306, a California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored bill that delivers critical reforms to the prior authorization process. The new law, authored by Senator Josh Becker, eliminates duplicative approval requirements and introduces new transparency measures that will help ensure patients receive care without unnecessary red tape.

Prior authorization, which forces physicians to obtain health plan approval before treating patients, has long been criticized for delaying care and creating avoidable administrative hurdles. SB 306 directly addresses these issues by empowering regulators to waive prior authorization for services that are almost always approved and requiring health plans to publish data that shines a light on approval patterns.

“This law is a decisive step toward ending wasteful prior authorization practices that too often delay or deny patients the care they need,” said CMA President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D. “By cutting out redundant requirements and increasing accountability, SB 306 puts patients’ health above paperwork. We thank Governor Newsom for his leadership in signing this reform into law and ensuring that California moves closer to a health care system where medical decisions are driven by clinical expertise rather than bureaucracy.”

SB 306 passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support, reflecting broad recognition that streamlining prior authorization is essential to protecting patients’ health and reducing administrative burden on physicians.

SB 306 was part of CMA’s sponsored bill package for the 2025 legislative session.