NUHW Members Advocate for Mental Health Bills at Sacramento Lobby Day

NUHW Advocates for Mental Health Parity in Sacramento

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In a significant push for mental health parity, more than 50 members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) converged in Sacramento on May 14 for Lobby Day. This gathering, which included mental health professionals from Kaiser Permanente in Southern California who had recently concluded a prolonged 196-day strike, was aimed at engaging directly with state legislators.

The timing of the event coincided with Mental Health Day at the state capitol. NUHW members took this opportunity to meet with 62 legislators and their aides, advocating for two bills sponsored by NUHW designed to enhance conditions for providers and seekers of mental health care in California.

Ligia Pacheco, a Kaiser therapist from Los Angeles, expressed pride in her work and the advocacy efforts. "It's difficult returning to work after such a long strike. I'm honored that my patients awaited my return. I love working with them, but I also cherish the chance to advocate for fundamental changes needed to achieve true mental health care parity," she stated.

The day's events were marked by recognition from both legislators and mental health advocates. Heidi Strunk, Director of Mental Health America, commended the Kaiser workers for their strike efforts and invited them for a group photo during the official Mental Health Day event at the Capitol State Park.

Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains of Delano, who authored one of the NUHW-sponsored bills, praised the workers. "Thank you for staying strong," she said, adding, "Thank you from this doctor and on behalf of all those who have suffered from mental illness."

Bains is the driving force behind AB 1429, a bill aimed at facilitating full reimbursements for Kaiser patients who need mental health treatments or medications not directly available through Kaiser. The mandate for Kaiser to reimburse will remain active until the organization can demonstrate to state regulators that it has resolved deficiencies in its mental health services, which resulted in a $200 million fine in 2023.

The second bill, SB 747, is championed by State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco. This legislation seeks to bring transparency to the compensation disparities between mental health workers and those providing medical/surgical care.

Health plans and large medical groups would need to report compensation data to the Department of Industrial Relations. This data would help analysts understand pay gaps and develop strategies to encourage more Californians to enter the mental health profession. Currently, there is a significant pay disparity, with Kaiser paying physical and occupational therapists 20 to 50 percent more than mental health therapists, despite similar educational and licensing requirements.

Both bills are currently in the appropriations committees of their respective legislative chambers. Legislators appear open to the firsthand experiences shared by NUHW therapists.

State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez acknowledged feedback from Kaiser members regarding their concerns about being "pushed towards group therapy...when that's not what the individual seeks." After meeting with Senator Pérez, Jessica Durán, a Kaiser therapist from Los Angeles, expressed satisfaction with continuing to hold Kaiser accountable post-strike.

"It's crucial that we persist in this fight and gain legislative support to change how Kaiser operates," said Durán. "Our visits were successful. We received valuable feedback and engaging questions. The legislators we spoke with were committed, which should help us advance our bills and drive further improvements from Kaiser next year."

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