SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 01/24/2012 09:00 PM] - Legislation that would significantly increase coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatments that private health insurers and managed health care plans are currently required to provide under state and federal mental health parity laws, faces a key hurdle, as the bill comes up for a final vote on the Assembly floor as early as this coming Thursday (January 26) . If AB 154, authored by Assemblymember Jim Beall Jr. (Democrat - San Jose, 24th Assembly District), passes the Assembly as expected, the bill then heads to the State Senate, where it faces likely more difficult prospects for passage in the Senate Health Committee.

The legislation could have major impact on millions of Californians with mental health needs and substance abuse issues, including people with disabilities - including people with autism spectrum disorders - who are also diagnosed with a mental illness or for substance abuse. The legislation is one of over a dozen bills pending in the Legislature dealing with expanding health care mandates (requirements).
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AB 154 is seen by many mental health, senior and disability advocates as critical in ending discrimination against people with mental health and substance use disorders, saying that people struggling with mental illness quickly exhaust limited coverage and personal savings, and then become dependent upon taxpayer supported benefits
Opponents of this bill including health plans - say AB 154 the new proposed health benefits will increase costs and end up limiting many types of health benefits overall.

AB 154 is similar in concept impacting some of the same population to SB 946 by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat - Sacramento - 6th State Senate District), which passed the Legislature on September 9, 2011 and was signed by Governor Brown on October 9th. SB 946 will require from July 1, 2012 through July 1, 2014, private health care service plans and health insurance to provide coverage for behavioral therapies and treatment for persons with autism spectrum and pervasive developmental disorders. Steps are being taken to implement that legislation over the coming months by state agencies, advocates, health plans and insurers and other stakeholders.