Sutter Health President & CEO Warner Thomas released a statement today supporting California Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of SB 326 and AB 531. This legislation places a bond on the March 2024 ballot that will make important modifications to California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) if approved by voters.
“We applaud Governor Newsom’s campaign to make mental health a top priority in California by signing legislation to strengthen California’s Mental Health Services Act,” said Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Sutter Health. “We also want to applaud Senator Eggman and Assemblymember Irwin for their leadership shepherding these two important bills through the legislature. Our physicians, advanced practice clinicians and care teams are on the front lines of the mental health and substance use disorder crisis. They stabilize and treat patients with these conditions in emergency departments, hospital-based addiction care units, and freestanding psychiatric hospitals across California. Expanding mental health care capacity and support is a top priority for Sutter Health and I’ve long considered myself an advocate on this issue. Sutter Health looks forward to supporting Proposition 1 in 2024.”
Sutter’s integrated health system provides access to a broad range of mental health services with the goal of integrating physical and mental health services into patient care. Sutter operates several mental health inpatient and addiction care units across our footprint, including freestanding facilities and outpatient care services. In addition to care centers, Sutter’s efforts include supporting community-based programs and clinics that provide expanded access to substance use disorder treatment, telehealth options for Sutter patients, and supporting behavioral health workforce development initiatives.
