California SB 1120 (Physicians Make Decisions Act)

Jurisdiction:

California

enforcing

Effective:

Jan 1, 2025

Authority:

California Department of Managed Health Care

Official text Verified May 21, 2026

Obligations Covered

Human Oversight

Timeline

Milestone	Date	Notes
Signed	Sep 1, 2024	Governor signed
Effective	Jan 1, 2025	Already in effect

Related Regulations and Standards

Related instruments are selected from shared compliance obligations and jurisdiction coverage.

Provisions (1)

Physician Supervision of AI #

Obligation:

Human Oversight

enforcing

Effective:

Jan 1, 2025

Risk tier:

high-risk

Scope:

health care service plans, disability insurers, and their contractors

Requirements

Requirement	Details
Physician-only determinations	Only licensed physicians or qualified professionals may deny, delay, or modify services based on medical necessity — AI cannot make these calls
Clinical basis	AI tools must base utilization review determinations on enrollee clinical history, provider circumstances, and medical records
Non-supplanting	AI must not supplant provider decision-making in utilization review
Non-discrimination	AI must be equitably applied and not discriminate
Auditability	AI tools used for UR/UM must be auditable

Penalties

Violation	Fine
Non-compliance	CA Department of Insurance + AG enforcement

Sources: SB 1120 Text

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Attribution: EveryAILaw, PAICE.work PBC. “California SB 1120 (Physicians Make Decisions Act)”, EveryAILaw.com, May 21, 2026. https://everyailaw.com/regulation/california-sb1120/

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