California Association of Local Behavioral Health Boards & Commissions
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    • News/Issues (Full Listing)
    • News/Issues A - D >
      • Board & Commission News
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        • Foster Children and Youth
      • Coordinated Care
      • Co-Occurring >
        • Dementia
        • Developmental Disabilities
        • Substance Use Disorder
        • TBI
      • Courts
      • Crisis Care Continuum
      • Cultural Issues
      • Disaster Recovery/Readiness
    • News/Issues E - P >
      • Employment
      • Homeless / Housing
      • Hospitals
      • Jails & Prisons
      • Laura's Law
      • Law Enforcement
      • LGBTQ >
        • LGBTQ+ Definitions and Acronyms
      • LPS Act
      • Navigator Programs
      • Parity
      • Patients' Rights
      • Peer Supports
      • Psychiatric Advance Directives
    • News/Issues Q - Z >
      • Stigma
      • Seniors
      • Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
      • Suicide
      • Veterans
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      • Youth Issues (Ages 16-25)
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PARITY

"Parity" means "equal to".  In health care, parity means that mental health and addiction treatment services are delivered at the same level, frequency and availability as medical and surgical services.

Understanding Parity

HHS’s New Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefit Resources Will Help People Seeking Care to Better Understand Their Rights, SAMHSA, 2022

Therapists Want to Provide Affordable Mental Health Care. Here’s What’s Stopping Them
, CaliforniaHealth Report​ 2020

Equal Treatment: A Review of Mental Health Parity Enforcement in CA, CA Health Care Foundation 2020

Mental Health Parity and Medical Necessity in California:  Frequently Asked Questions, The Kennedy Forum

Generally Accepted Standards of Behavioral Health Care (including "Wit v. United Behavioral Health" - 2019 Landmark Ruling), The Kennedy Forum

Disparities in Network Use and Reimbursement Rates, Overview of Milliman Report and Findings, Dec. 2017

SB 855  Addresses Parity & Access

The new state law requires commercial health plans and insurers outside of Medi-Cal (which is regulated by different standards) to provide full coverage for treatment of all mental health conditions and substance use disorders. SB 855

CBS News:  Families fight insurers for live-saving care for loved ones with mental health conditions, October 2019


OFFICE

717 K STREET, SUITE 427
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

mission

cALBHB/C supports the work of california's 59 local mental/ behavioral health boards and commissions by providing resources, training, and opportunities for communication and statewide advocacy.

Local boards are responsible for reviewing community mental health needs, services, facilities and special problems, and serve in an advisory capacity to local governing bodies and local mental/behavioral health directors per CA Welfare and Institutions Code 5604.2.
Donations are welcome. CALBHB/C is a nonprofit organization.