February 28, 2025
The Honorable Mia Bonta
Chair, Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for AB 257 (Flora)
Dear Chair Bonta,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 257 (Flora), legislation that would establish a telehealth and other virtual services specialty care network, designed to serve patients of safety-net providers.
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. Californians in rural communities have the most difficulties accessing behavioral health care, which contributes to California’s growing health disparities.
AB 257 creates a network of rural health clinics, health centers, critical access hospitals, and other community health centers for the purpose of delivering tele-healthcare and other virtual services in communities that lack access. According to the California Health Care Foundation more than 67% of residents in the Central Valley, home to many rural agricultural communities, had to wait longer than reasonable for a mental health appointment in the last year.[1] In addition, more than half the residents believe their community doesn’t have enough mental health providers.
This specialty network will be instrumental to reducing mental health disparities and ensuring access to those who need it most. It is for these reasons we support AB 257 (Flora). If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO
[1] KEY FINDINGS FROM THE 2024 CHCF CENTRAL VALLEY HEALTH POLICY SURVEY, California Health Care Foundation (2024)