Overview

• Christine Dougherty testified before California lawmakers in support of two bills addressing insurance practices in addiction treatment coverage.
• The Senate Committee on Health unanimously approved SB 363, which would require insurers to report treatment denial rates, advancing it to the next legislative stage.
• AB 669, which proposes a mandatory 28-day minimum before insurers can review addiction treatment eligibility, is under consideration in the Assembly.
• Dougherty’s son, Ryan Matlock, died of a fentanyl overdose in 2021 after his insurer cut coverage just three days into his rehab stay.
• Insurance industry representatives argue these measures could increase costs and undermine safeguards against fraud and unnecessary treatments.