CA SB1019

Requires Medi-Cal managed care plans to conduct annual outreach and education to enrollees about covered mental health benefits by January 1, 2025, based on a plan submitted to the state department for approval within 180 calendar days.

Mandates outreach plans be informed by stakeholder engagement, Population Needs Assessment, and utilization assessment by race, ethnicity, language, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability, and must meet cultural and linguistic appropriateness standards and incorporate stigma reduction best practices.

Requires plans to also conduct annual outreach and education to primary care providers regarding covered mental health benefits and to publicly post approved outreach plans and utilization assessments on their websites.

Directs the state department to assess enrollee experience with mental health benefits every three years using survey tools and methodologies adopted by January 1, 2025, and to publish reports beginning April 2026 with plan-by-plan data, subpopulation analysis, and demographic equity information.

Authorizes the department to implement these provisions through guidance letters rather than formal rulemaking and permits contracting on a bid or negotiated basis with exemptions from standard procurement requirements.