(a)  Notwithstanding Article 6 (commencing with Section 650) of Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, any health care service plan or specialized health care service plan may, except as limited by this subdivision, solicit or advertise with regard to the cost of subscription or enrollment, facilities and services rendered, provided, however, Article 5 (commencing with Section 600) of Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code remains in effect. Any price advertisement shall be exact, without the use of such phrases as “as low as,” “and up,” “lowest prices” or words or phrases of similar import. Any advertisement that refers to services, or costs for the services, and that uses words of comparison must be based on verifiable data substantiating the comparison. Any health care service plan or specialized health care service plan so advertising shall be prepared to provide information sufficient to establish the accuracy of the comparison. Price advertising shall not be fraudulent, deceitful, or misleading, nor contain any offers of discounts, premiums, gifts, or bait of similar nature. In connection with price advertising, the price for each product or service shall be clearly identifiable. The price advertised for products shall include charges for any related professional services, including dispensing and fitting services, unless the advertisement specifically and clearly indicates otherwise.

(b)  Plans licensed under this chapter shall not be deemed to be engaged in the practice of a profession, and may employ, or contract with, any professional licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code to deliver professional services. Employment by or a contract with a plan as a provider of professional services shall not constitute a ground for disciplinary action against a health professional licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code by a licensing agency regulating a particular health care profession.

(c)  A health care service plan licensed under this chapter may directly own, and may directly operate through its professional employees or contracted licensed professionals, offices and subsidiary corporations, including pharmacies that satisfy the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 4080.5 of the Business and Professions Code, as are necessary to provide health care services to the plan’s subscribers and enrollees.

(d)  A professional licensed pursuant to the provisions of Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code who is employed by, or under contract to, a plan may not own or control offices or branch offices beyond those expressly permitted by the provisions of the Business and Professions Code.

(e)  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to repeal, abolish, or diminish the effect of Section 129450 of the Health and Safety Code.

(f)  Except as specifically provided in this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the effect of the laws governing professional corporations, as they appear in applicable provisions of the Business and Professions Code, upon specialized health care service plans.

(g)  No representative of a participating health, dental, or vision plan or its subcontractor representative shall in any manner use false or misleading claims to misrepresent itself, the plan, the subcontractor, or the Healthy Families or Medi-Cal program while engaging in application assistance activities that are subject to this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any representative of the health, dental, or vision care plan or of the health, dental, or vision care plan’s subcontractor who violates any of the provisions of Section 12693.325 of the Insurance Code shall only be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) for each of those violations.

(h)  A health care service plan shall comply with Section 12693.325 of the Insurance Code and Section 14409 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In addition to any other disciplinary powers provided by this chapter, if a health care service plan violates any of the provisions of Section 12693.325 of the Insurance Code, the department may prohibit the health care service plan from providing application assistance and contacting applicants pursuant to Section 12693.325 of the Insurance Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 171, Sec. 2. Effective August 10, 2001.)