(a) For the 2025–26 to 2026–27 fiscal years, inclusive, a health care service plan licensed by the department shall be assessed an annual fee in an amount determined by the department, in consultation with the Department of Health Care Access and Information. The annual fee shall be limited to the amount necessary to fund the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the department to implement Article 6.1 (commencing with Section 1385.001) and the actual and reasonably necessary expenses of the Department of Health Care Access and Information pertaining to data reporting by pharmacy benefit managers, including that portion of the Health Care Payments Data Program established by Section 127671.1 that concerns pharmacy benefit managers.
(b) The fees received pursuant to this section shall be transferred from the Managed Care Fund to the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fund established by Section 1385.0017 and disbursed pursuant to that section, upon appropriation by the Legislature.