May 31, 2024
The Honorable Richard D. Roth
Senate Health Committee
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Room 3310
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Support for AB 1842 (Reyes) Medication-Assisted Treatment
Dear Chair Roth,
Mental Health America of California is pleased to support AB 1842 (Reyes) which would prohibit a medical service plan and a health insurer from subjecting a naloxone product or another opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or a buprenorphine product or long-acting injectable naltrexone for detoxification or maintenance treatment of a substance use disorder, to prior authorization or step therapy.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
Prior authorization protocols and step therapy can prevent people from receiving timely access to those voluntary mental and behavioral health services. With the increase in substance use and the surge in fentanyl overdose deaths, access to naloxone and other opioid antagonists is crucial for saving lives and supporting recovery. Prior authorization and step therapy impose unnecessary barriers to these life-saving resources, which should be readily accessible to those in need.
For these reasons, we support AB 1842 (Reyes). If you have any questions or if MHAC can be of assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please feel free to contact me or our Public Policy Director, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO
