(a) To the extent approved by the appropriate federal agency, for the purpose of implementing the option in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 100504, the Exchange shall make available bridge plan products to individuals specified in Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In implementing this requirement, the Exchange, using the selective contracting authority described in subdivision (c) of Section 100503, shall contract with, and certify as a qualified health plan, a bridge plan product that is, at a minimum, certified by the Exchange as a qualified bridge plan product. For purposes of this section, in order to be a qualified bridge plan product, the plan shall do all of the following:

(1) Be a health care service plan or health insurer that contracts with the State Department of Health Care Services to provide Medi-Cal managed care plan services pursuant to Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Meet minimum requirements to contract with the Exchange as a qualified health plan pursuant to Section 1301 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) and Sections 100502, 100503, and 100507 of this code.

(3) Enroll in the bridge plan product only individuals who meet the requirements of Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(4) Comply with the medical loss ratio requirements of Section 1399.864 of the Health and Safety Code or Section 10961 of the Insurance Code.

(5) Demonstrate the bridge plan product has, at minimum, a substantially similar provider network as the Medi-Cal managed care plan offered by the health care service plan or health insurer.

(b) The Exchange shall provide information on all of the available Exchange-qualified health plans in the area, including, but not limited to, bridge plan product options for selection by individuals eligible to enroll in a bridge plan product.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be implemented in a manner that conflicts with a requirement of the federal act.

(d) This section shall become inoperative on the October 1 that is five years after the date that federal approval of the bridge plan option occurs, and, as of the second January 1 thereafter, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before that date deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

(Added by Stats. 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 6. (SB 3 1x) Effective September 30, 2013. Conditionally inoperative, on date prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed, by its own provisions, on second January 1 after inoperative date.)