California Legislative Updates
SAMHSA
Letter to Attorney General Bonta Last week, we previewed for you a draft letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta regarding the dismantling of SAMHSA. The letter was finalized and sent to the Attorney General. You may view the letter here. Almost immediately upon receipt, the Attorney General's staff reached out to [...]
CSAP Sponsored Bills
On Wednesday, three of CSAP’s sponsored bills were heard in a marathon hearing of the Senate Health Committee. Between the three bills heard, former Government Affairs Chairwoman Dr. Emily Wood and CSAP advocate Dylan Elliott of SYASL spent over an hour and 30 minutes before the committee engaged in debate with opposition [...]
APA – Letter to Secretary Kennedy
The APA and AACAP have sent a letter to Secretary Kennedy. The goal is to engage with the Make America Healthy Again Commission in a dialogue to educate them about effective life-saving treatment for children with MH SUD. APA remains committed to protecting and supporting our policies. You may view [...]
Trump Administration Open to IMD Exclusion Changes?
As reported by Dorothy Mills-Gregg in Inside Health Policy, HHS Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised to work with senators to repeal the federal ban on Medicaid funding so-called Institutions for Mental Diseases, ensure the Medicare area wage index is fair to rural providers and “fix” the nursing home staffing rule. Kennedy’s [...]
Governor Signs $2.5 Billion Relief Package to Help Fire Recovery
Governor Newsom has signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion in disaster relief. The funding will be made available immediately to help bolster ongoing emergency response efforts and jumpstart recovery efforts. The special session legislation – ABx1-4 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and SBx1-3 by Senator Scott Wiener – provides funding to expedite firestorm response and [...]
SD Mayor on Homelessness and Mental Health
This week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called out county government for not doing its share regarding behavioral health services and homelessness. "It is...long past time for the County of San Diego to fulfill its responsibility on addressing homelessness in the region. Mental health and addiction are often at the [...]