State Senator Scott Wiener, representing San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County, has been a steadfast advocate for mental health reform since his election in 2016. With a background in law and a commitment to public service, Wiener has prioritized legislation that expands and protects access to mental health care.
A pivotal achievement in his legislative career was SB 855 (Mental health as a medical necessity), enacted in 2020, which mandates that insurance companies cover all medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatments, not just emergency services. This law positions California as a national leader in mental health parity.
Building on this foundation, Wiener authored SB 221 (Timely mental health care), effective July 2022, requiring health plans to provide timely follow-up appointments for mental health and substance use disorders. This legislation addresses the critical need for continuous care, ensuring that patients receive necessary treatment without undue delays.
This year Wiener introduced SB 747 Wages: behavioral health and medical-surgical employees), which would build the administrative foundation for achieving compensation parity between behavioral and medical-surgical workers.
