On April 22, 2011, the California Department of Managed Health Care (“DMHC”) released draft Letter No. 8-K, which is designed to provide health care service plans with guidance concerning SB 1163. This follows the California Department of Insurance’s (“CDI”) release on April 5, 2011, of Guidance 1163:2 concerning SB 1163.

SB 1163, effective January 1, 2011, amended the California Health and Safety Code and the California Insurance Code to provide for review of rate increases by health care service plans and health insurers for purposes of determining whether the rate increase is unreasonable.