RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AB 423 (BEALL), HEALTH CARE COVERAGE: MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, while current law requires health plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment for severe and serious mental illness of a person of any age and of serious emotional disturbances of a child, there are many mental disorders not covered under current law; and

WHEREAS, a 2006 report to the Legislature highlighted the lack of access to mental health services as a major barrier keeping California from achieving greater mental health parity; and

WHEREAS, AB 423 would require health care service plans and health insurance policies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of mental illnesses for an insured of any age; and

WHEREAS, AB 423 would also define mental illness as a mental disorder defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical (DSM) IV;

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors by adoption of this resolution supports AB 423 (Beall), Health care coverage: mental health services.

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