CA AB1600

Requires health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2011, to cover diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of mental illness for persons of any age, including children, under the same terms as other medical conditions.

Defines "mental illness" as any mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, including substance abuse, but excludes 23 specified diagnoses such as bereavement, occupational problems, nicotine dependence, and relational problems.

Allows health insurers and plans to provide mental health coverage through separate specialized mental health plans, utilize case management and prior authorization, and require enrollees in certain geographic areas to use designated mental health providers.

Exempts Medi-Cal contracts, accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, and dental/vision-only policies from the mental health coverage requirement; makes Public Employees' Retirement System plans exempt unless the board elects to purchase mental health coverage.

Permits the definition of "mental illness" to be revised by joint regulation following publication of subsequent editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.