PARITY & ACCESS

"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.
"Access" refers to the timely, efficient, and equitable ability for individuals to obtain necessary services to achieve the best possible health outcomes. It requires three core pillars: funding, access to providers, and accessibility of 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

Funding Gaps

Funding the Service Gap for Adult Outpatient Mental Health Services in California, Rand, 2025 
A substantial additional investment is needed for the county mental health care system to address two important shortfalls:
  • The system is not adequately funded to provide evidence-based treatment to its current treatment population
  • The system is not serving all eligible adults in California.
The authors propose three recommendations for the public health system to address the service gap in providing evidence-based care to adults who require outpatient services for mental health conditions within county mental health plans.

SB 255 Addresses Timely Access

This state law requires a health care service plan or health insurer to incorporate timely access to care standards into its quality assurance systems and incorporate specified processes. Senate Floor Analysis     SB 225

SB 855  Addresses Parity & Access

This 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
​CA counties map by behavioral health region, showing 58 counties plus Berkeley and Tri-Cities. (Sutter and Yuba Counties are one jurisdiction). View map.
The california association of local behavioral* health boards & commissions (cALBHB/C) supports the work of california's 59 local behavioral health boards and commissions by providing resources, training, Technical Assistance. 

Local boards are responsible** for reviewing public behavioral health needs, services, facilities and special problems, and serve in an advisory capacity to local governing bodies and local behavioral health directors. ​

​*"Behavioral" Refers to Mental Health as well as Alcohol and Drugs.
**CA Welfare & Institutions Code (WIC) 5604
Donations are welcome. CALBHB/C is a nonprofit organization.