April 14th, 2025
The Honorable Mia Bonta
Chair, Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for Assembly Bill 510 (Addis)
Dear Chair Bonta,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 510 (Addis), legislation that ensures appeals or grievances related to denied healthcare services are reviewed within 2 business days by a licensed physician or a qualified healthcare professional with expertise in the relevant area. Additionally, if these timelines are not met, the request would be automatically approved.
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.
Individuals can experience a range of mental health or substance use challenges, and when they seek appropriate support or services through their health insurance, coverage denials can create serious gaps in care. While health plans offer grievance processes for enrollees to challenge these denials, the grievances are sometimes reviewed by general physicians or health administrators who may lack the specialized expertise needed to assess mental health or substance use conditions. This lack of competency can lead to continued denials, delaying or denying access to necessary care. In 2016, the Department of Managed Health Care reported that enrollees who requested an Independent Medical Review (IMR) after a health plan grievance was unresolved received the requested health care services in nearly 69 percent of cases.[1]
By ensuring competent review of coverage denials in the grievance process, this bill will help reduce gaps in care and reduce the need for IMRs. It is for these reasons MHAC supports AB 510 (Addis) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any behavioral health legislation, please feel free to contact me at hstrunk@mhac.org or reach out to our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO
[1] The California Department of Managed Health Care. (2016). 2016 ANNUAL REPORT.
