(a) (1) Within six months after the department issues guidance pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), and no later than March 1, 2025, a health insurer that issues, sells, renews, or offers health insurance policies for health care coverage in this state, including a grandfathered health insurance policy, but not including specialized health insurance policies that provide only dental or vision services, shall require all of its health insurer staff who are in direct contact with insureds in the delivery of care or insured services to complete evidence-based cultural competency training for the purpose of providing trans-inclusive health care for individuals who identify as transgender, gender diverse, or intersex (TGI). (2) An evidence-based cultural competency training implemented pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include all of the following: (A) Information about the effects, including, but not limited to, ongoing personal effects, of historical and contemporary exclusion and oppression of TGI communities. (B) Information about communicating more effectively across gender identities, including TGI-inclusive terminology, using peopleâs correct names and pronouns, even when they are not reflected in records or legal documents; avoiding language, whether verbal or nonverbal, that demeans, ridicules, or condemns TGI individuals; and avoiding making assumptions about gender identity by using gender-neutral language and avoiding language that presumes all individuals are heterosexual, cisgender or gender conforming, or nonintersex. (C) Discussion on health inequities within the TGI community, including family and community acceptance. (D) Perspectives of diverse, local constituency groups and TGI-serving organizations, including, but not limited to, the California Transgender Advisory Council. (E) Recognition of the difference between personal values and professional responsibilities with regard to serving TGI people. (F) Facilitation by TGI-serving organizations. (3) Use of any training curricula for purposes of implementing paragraph (1) shall be subject to approval by the department, following stakeholder engagement with local constituency groups and TGI-serving organizations, including, but not limited to, the California Transgender Advisory Council. (4) After first-time completion of the evidence-based cultural competency training, in the form of initial basic training, an individual described in paragraph (1) shall complete a refresher course if a complaint has been filed, and a decision has been made in favor of the complainant, against that individual for not providing trans-inclusive health care, or on a more frequent basis if deemed necessary by the health insurer or the department for purposes of providing trans-inclusive health care. (b) (1) No later than September 1, 2024, the department shall develop and implement procedures, and may impose sanctions pursuant to any applicable enforcement provisions, to ensure that a health insurer is compliant with the requirements described in subdivision (a). (2) Within six months after the department issues guidance pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), the department shall track and monitor complaints received by the department related to trans-inclusive health care and publicly report this data with other complaint data on its website or with other public reports containing complaint data. (c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) âTGIâ means transgender, gender diverse, or intersex. (2) âTGI-serving organizationâ has the same meaning as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 150900 of the Health and Safety Code. (3) âTrans-inclusive health careâ means comprehensive health care that is consistent with the standards of care for individuals who identify as TGI, honors an individualâs personal bodily autonomy, does not make assumptions about an individualâs gender, accepts gender fluidity and nontradit
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