Bill > SB855

This bill revises and expands California's mental health parity law to require health care service plans and disability insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of all mental health and substance use disorders under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions. The bill defines "medically necessary treatment" and "mental health and substance use disorders" based on recognized clinical standards, and prohibits plans and insurers from limiting benefits or coverage for these conditions to short-term or acute treatment. The bill also establishes requirements for how plans and insurers must conduct utilization review for mental health and substance use disorder services, including applying generally accepted standards of care. The bill authorizes administrative penalties for violations and declares its provisions severable.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB855