California Assembly Bill 1429 would require reimbursement in specified cases when enrollees could not obtain timely behavioral health care through the plan.
Proposed reimbursement requirement
According to the California State Legislature, Assembly Bill 1429 was introduced by Assembly Member Bains on February 21, 2025, and was amended in the Assembly on April 2 and May 1, 2025. The Legislature identifies the measure as proposed legislation, not enacted law.
The bill concerns behavioral health reimbursement and would apply to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. The California State Legislature says the proposal would require the plan to fully reimburse an enrollee for certain out-of-pocket expenses connected with behavioral health care.
When reimbursement could apply
According to the California State Legislature, the proposed requirement would cover behavioral health care services obtained from non-plan providers or facilities. It would also cover mental health prescription medication obtained from a non-plan pharmacy or provider.
The bill would require reimbursement when an enrollee submits documented expenses and a signed statement affirming that the expense resulted from an inability to obtain timely care through the plan, according to the California State Legislature. Under the proposal, the plan would have 60 calendar days after submission to provide full reimbursement.
Time period in the proposal
The California State Legislature says AB 1429 would apply to covered costs incurred on or after May 1, 2022. The proposed reimbursement period would continue until the department certifies completion of corrective action connected to the plan’s 2023 settlement agreement with the Department of Managed Health Care.
The source also notes that existing law requires health care service plan contracts to cover medically necessary treatment for mental health and substance use disorders under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions. AB 1429 would add the specific reimbursement provisions described in the bill for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan.
What this means for California patients
Because AB 1429 is proposed and has not been enacted, the California State Legislature’s description does not establish a current reimbursement requirement. People seeking behavioral health treatment locally may use the directory, which lists 382 published clinics in California, to identify nearby treatment options.
This is general information, not medical advice.
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This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.