(a) On and after January 1, 1993, every health care service plan that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis shall provide benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children 16 years of age or younger under terms and conditions agreed upon between the group subscriber and the plan. Every plan shall communicate the availability of these benefits to all group contractholders and to all prospective group contractholders with whom they are negotiating. This section shall apply to each plan that, by rule or order of the director, has been exempted from subdivision (i) of Section 1367, insofar as that section and the rules thereunder relate to the provision of the preventive health care services described in this section.

(b) For purposes of this section, benefits for the comprehensive preventive care of children shall comply with both of the following:

(1) Be consistent with both of the following:

(A) The Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care, as adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in September of 1987.

(B) The most current version of the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule/United States, jointly adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, unless the State Department of Health Services determines, within 45 days of the published date of the schedule, that the schedule is not consistent with the purposes of this section.

(2) Provide for all of the following:

(A) Periodic health evaluations.

(B) Immunizations.

(C) Laboratory services in connection with periodic health evaluations.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 525, Sec. 97. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2000, or sooner, by Sec. 214 of Ch. 525.)