Bill > SB812

This bill expands health care coverage and reimbursement requirements for mental health and substance use disorder services provided to youth aged 25 and younger at qualified youth drop-in centers. Specifically, the bill requires health care service plans, disability insurance policies, and Medi-Cal managed care plans to cover and reimburse mental health services delivered at these centers, similar to existing requirements for school-based services. A "qualified youth drop-in center" is defined as a center providing behavioral or primary health services to youth aged 12-25 that has been designated by or embedded with a local educational agency or institution of higher education. The bill modifies existing laws to broaden the definition of where these services can be provided, removing previous language about receiving funding through a specific initiative. The services must be reimbursed at the greater of the plan's contracted rate or the state's fee-for-service rate, and patients cannot be charged copayments or other out-of-pocket costs. The bill aims to increase access to mental health services for young people by expanding the locations where they can receive treatment and ensuring that these services are covered by health plans. Because the bill involves potential criminal penalties for non-compliance by health care service plans, it is considered a state-mandated local program.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB812