Wednesday March 27
1:30 p.m.
Senate Health Committee Room 4203
Tag: California State Capitol
California Poll: Mental Health Care Access, Insurance Coverage, Affordability Rank Among Top Health Care Priorities for New Governor, Legislature
Peer Certification is Back! SB 10!
Senator Beall has reintroduced SB 10, mental health services: peer, parent, transition age, and family support specialist certification
See News Release from Senator Beall’s office:
Legislators Call for Urgent Action to Improve Mental Health Services and Delivery
December 03, 2018
SACRAMENTO — On the opening day of a new legislative session, lawmakers from the Senate and Assembly gathered to call for action to stem California’s mental health crisis.
“It’s no secret that access to integrated mental health services and provider shortages plague our state, resulting in deteriorated mental health outcomes for all Californians,’’ said Beall, chairman of both the Senate Mental Health Caucus and the Select Committee on Mental Health. “The lack of integrated, accessible mental health services is one of the greatest humanitarian challenges we face and we must invest in mental health infrastructure to save many, many lives.
“Early access to treatment is key. Three-quarters of all mental health issues have their onset by the age of 24. Yet adolescents and young adults are the group least likely to receive mental health care. State Auditor Elaine Howle identified that counties have millions of dollars in unspent mental health funds and the state is projecting now a massive budget surplus. With resources available and the need for comprehensive mental health so great, the time for legislation and legislators to act is now.’’
“Joining Beall were John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa), and Assemblymembers Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) and representatives from the Steinberg Institute, Mental Health America of California and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
This morning, Beall introduced three bills to increase and ensure mental health services and treatment:
SB 10 increases the effectiveness of mental health and addiction supportive services by establishing a state certification process for peer providers — people with lived experiences as family members, clients, or caretakers of individuals recovering from addiction or mental illness – who guide and help their clients.
SB 11 strengthens enforcement of state and federal mental health parity laws by requiring health care service plans and health insurers to submit annual reports to the state to determine if they are complying with parity laws. The information would be available to the public on the website of either the Department Of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance.
SB 12 declares the intent of the Legislature to amend the existing Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) to authorize the state and local governments to establish at least 100 drop-in centers to meet youths’ needs. They would be modeled after the headspace project, an Australian national network comprised of “one-shop stop’’ centers for youth to ensure they have the coping skills and a support system in place for a successful transition to adulthood. In California, 17 percent of high school students reported they have seriously considered attempting suicide; 9 percent reported they have attempted suicide one or more times.
The need for mental health treatment, therapy, and counseling is high in California. Only three out of four Californians who have mental health needs receive treatment.
The legislators made clear that California must eliminate gaps in the delivery of mental health services.
Sen. Moorlach called for connecting mental health services to young people. “I think with the Mental Health Services Act and all the funding that’s available, redirecting, giving more focus, and getting things moving is so critical. We can’t have $2.5 billion sitting in bank accounts languishing when we have so many families in need,’’ he said.
Arambula said, “Our foster kids who are exposed to more trauma than most should not have to deal with the crisis of the moment by being penalized and being sent to a judicial system that is not ready to process them. Instead, we should be meeting them where they are at by providing wrap-around services, a social worker and a crisis line.’’
Chu said he supports having at least one mental health professional on school campuses. “I believe the most central location to provide wrap-around services is at the school,’’ he said.
SB 906 Peer Cert. VETOED! Persistence is key!
From Sally Zinman, Executive Director, CAMHPRO
Governor Brown has Vetoed SB 906. The consumer and larger mental health stakeholder community will pursue California state certification and, by all accounts, will have a better chance with a new Governor.
Persistence is the key to success, and essential to advocacy. Persistence and hope. We will have peer certification in California!
See the Governor’s veto message (below), which in my opinion, is not knowledgeable of the purpose or content of the bill.
~Sally~
VETO MESSAGE
SB 906 Peer Certification, ON Governor’s Desk! Write Letters! Send Emails!
Update SB 906 information. ON Governor’s desk. Officially received on September 12. He has a certain amount of days after he officially receives the bill to veto or approve the it. Only have about 10 days to influence the decision of the Governor. Write letters!
Contact Donna Campbell
Health Aide to the Governor donna.campbell@gov.ca.gov
Fax support for the bill to: 916-558-3177
SB906 Support Letter Sample Template 2.15.18:
This is a sample letter you can recreate and use for your own purposes. Send letters! Email Donna!
SB 906 Peer Certification Update
This is the BEST Validation for
CA Peer Support Specialists!
SB 906 passed out of the Assembly floor with a unanimous vote on Friday August 31.
Last minute amendments to the bill postpone the start dates and remove the unique peer billing option.
See last amendment
Now the bill requires the Governor’s Approval before it becomes law!
Contact Donna Campbell
Health Aide to the Governor donna.campbell@gov.ca.gov
Fax support for the bill to: 916-558-3177
SB906 Support Letter Template 2.15.18 : This is a sample letter you can recreate and use for your own purposes. Send letters! Email Diane!
ACT on SB 906: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 CA Assembly Health Hearing
CA Assembly Committee on Health
SB 906 Hearing Tuesday, June 19, 2018,
1:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 4202
Support Letter Template to Assembly Committee on Health
*Note: you must create account to upload your letter now at: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/
5/28/18 Senate Floor Analysis of SB 906
with all Agencies that submitted Support Letters
CAMHPRO’s Timeline Updated 6.12.18
17 Stakeholder Recommendations of 2014
FAQs on State Peer Certification & Billing
More Background Materials on Stakeholder Process
Peer Certification Webinar 6/14
Bill passed the CA Senate!
- Give brief background on CA State Peer Support Certification efforts
- Review Amendments & Movement on Bill SB 906 Peer Support Specialist Certification
- Discuss Next Steps for 6/19, 1:30 PM CA Assembly Health Committee Hearing
- Go over the new process to submit letters of support to the Assembly which allows upload of letter but requires registration.
You only need to register once for this monthly webinar with your correct email. If you have already registered you will receive a reminder email each month with your unique link to join.
If not, please Register at the following link:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5972164910449781505
- SB 906 Hearing Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 1:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 4202
See Support Letter Template to Assembly Committee on Health
*Note: you must create account to upload your letter now at: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/
See 5/28/18 Senate Floor Analysis of SB 906 with all Agencies that submitted Support Letters
See CAMHPRO’s Timeline Updated 6.12.18
See 17 Stakeholder Recommendations of 2014
See FAQs on State Peer Certification & Billing
See More Background Materials on Stakeholder Process