California Access Coalition
The California Access Coalition is a Sacramento-based nonprofit membership coalition, founded in 1996, that advocates for patient access to behavioral health medications and treatment in California by convening providers, patient advocacy groups, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and state agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What California Access Coalition does
California Access Coalition (CAC) is a private Sacramento-based nonprofit membership coalition, originally founded in 1996 by Rusty Selix, that advocates for patient access to behavioral health medications and treatment across California. The organization convenes a cross-stakeholder network of behavioral health organizations, patient advocacy groups, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and California state agency representatives to advance patient-centered policies. Its operating footprint is California-only, with no disclosed expansion beyond state-level policy work and a small staff of 1-10 employees.
CAC delivers value through advocacy, convening, and educational programming rather than any technology product. Its offerings include bi-monthly member meetings, an annual Membership Retreat, legislative briefings, topical webinar series (Long-Acting Medications, maternal mental health, tardive dyskinesia awareness), a bi-monthly newsletter, and a UILM Forum series. The organization does not sell software, APIs, or technology services, and it has documented legislative outcomes including the 1998 Medi-Cal formulary expansion campaign, Proposition 63 (Mental Health Services Act) in 2004, and the sponsored AB 1437 (Medi-Cal SMI Medication Access Bill) in 2023.
Revenue is generated through corporate partnership sponsorships rather than membership fees, which are explicitly free for qualifying organizations. Corporate partners include Alkermes, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Indivior, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Lundbeck, Neurocrine Biosciences, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and PhRMA. Since 2019, CAC has operated under the management of the California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) following the retirement and 2019 death of founder Rusty Selix. CAC does not disclose revenue, has no subsidiaries, and has not accepted venture or private equity capital.
California Access Coalition firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- California Access Coalition
- Legal name
- California Access Coalition
- Website
- https://californiaaccesscoalition.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The California Access Coalition is a Sacramento-based nonprofit membership coalition, founded in 1996, that advocates for patient access to behavioral health medications and treatment in California by convening providers, patient advocacy groups, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and state agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
California Access Coalition industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Healthcare Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care (BPAGACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)
Keywords
Where California Access Coalition is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
California Access Coalition business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Partnerships and Membership: The organization is funded through corporate partner sponsorships and free membership. Corporate Partners enable the coalition to pursue advocacy efforts for patient access to behavioral health treatment. Membership is explicitly stated to be FREE for qualifying organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free membership for qualifying organizations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
California Access Coalition product offering
Product offeringCore offering
California Access Coalition is a membership-based advocacy coalition that convenes behavioral health organizations, patient advocacy groups, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, providers, and California state agency representatives. It provides legislative advocacy, networking events, webinars, and policy education aimed at eliminating barriers to medication and behavioral health treatment for Californians. Membership is offered free of charge to qualifying organizations, with operational support provided by corporate partner sponsorships.
Product overview
California Access Coalition (CAC) is a healthcare advocacy organization, not a technology product company. It provides advocacy services, membership programs, legislative advocacy, events, webinars, and educational resources focused on improving behavioral health access for Californians. CAC does not offer a software product, platform, or technology solution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Coalition Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully advocated for Medi-Cal formulary expansion to include new antidepressant and anti-psychotic medications
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use California Access Coalition
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
California Access Coalition technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
California Access Coalition partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- AlkermesminorCorporate Partner supporting CAC advocacy efforts. Alkermes is a pharmaceutical company focused on CNS disorders.
- AstraZenecaminorCorporate Partner. AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company.
- Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)minorCorporate Partner. BMS is a global biopharmaceutical company.
- Johnson & Johnson Innovative MedicineminorCorporate Partner that has supported CAC events including LAM webinars. J&J is a major pharmaceutical company.
- IndiviorminorCorporate Partner focused on addiction treatments.
- Intra-Cellular TherapiesminorCorporate Partner. Intra-Cellular Therapies develops CNS treatments.
- LundbeckminorCorporate Partner. Lundbeck is focused on brain diseases.
- Neurocrine BiosciencesminorCorporate Partner and co-host of TD awareness webinar in 2024. Neurocrine focuses on neurological disorders.
- Otsuka PharmaceuticalminorCorporate Partner that has participated in CAC panels and webinars on LAMs.
- PhRMAminorCorporate Partner. PhRMA is the pharmaceutical industry trade association.
- California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)coreCo-hosted 2020 briefing and lunch event with Senator Jim Beall. CLSA is a major healthcare industry association in California.
- California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT)coreCo-hosted 2021 AB 933 Legislative Briefing on prescription drug rebate reform. CPAT is a coalition focused on patient access to treatment.
- Connection CoalitioncoreCo-hosted 2021 legislative briefing on 'Behavioral Health...a Public Health Emergency' with CAC.
- Perry Communications GroupcoreLong-standing partnership managing public relations efforts for CAC. Perry Communications has been a partner for over two decades.
- California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA)coreCurrent manager of CAC since transition from original leadership. CBHA is a longtime member organization now overseeing CAC operations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
California Access Coalition competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NAMI California: National Alliance on Mental Illness's California affiliate and a CAC member organization. Direct peer as a California-based mental health advocacy and policy organization serving overlapping patient advocacy and legislative engagement functions.
- California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA): CBHA is CAC's current managing/parent organization and the statewide behavioral health provider association. It is the most directly comparable peer given its overlapping California behavioral health policy mission and its formal governance role over CAC.
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): National patient advocacy organization for mood disorders; CAC board member Kristin Colino is Past President of DBSA-CA. Direct peer in mental health patient advocacy space with overlapping California presence.
- California Chronic Care Coalition: Coalition of chronic disease patient advocacy organizations in California. Direct peer given identical membership-coalition model, statewide California scope, legislative advocacy focus, and formal partnership relationship with CAC.
- California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT): California-focused patient access coalition with similar model of bringing together stakeholders to advocate for prescription drug access and affordability. CPAT is a direct peer — CAC and CPAT have even co-hosted legislative briefings together (e.g., AB 933 in 2021).
Emerging players
- Inseparable: National mental health advocacy organization where CAC board member David Lloyd serves as Chief Policy Officer. Emerging player in mental health policy advocacy with significant overlap in California behavioral health legislative priorities.
Others
- PhRMA: The pharmaceutical industry's national trade association and a CAC corporate partner. Included as a thematic peer — not a direct advocacy peer but a key ecosystem participant whose policy priorities (drug access, IP, pricing) materially shape CAC's legislative agenda and funding base.
Broad incumbents
- Mental Health America: The largest nationwide community-based mental health advocacy nonprofit. Broad incumbent peer operating across all 50 states on mental health policy, education, and access — overlaps with CAC's mental health advocacy focus at a larger geographic and programmatic scale.
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing: National membership organization for behavioral health providers and organizations. Broad incumbent peer given its similar coalition/membership model applied to behavioral health policy, training, and advocacy at a national scale.
Regional players
- California Life Sciences Association (CLSA): California's life sciences industry trade association and a CAC strategic partner (co-hosted 2020 briefing with Senator Beall). Regional peer operating in adjacent healthcare/biotech policy space with overlapping California legislative advocacy scope.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
California Access Coalition social profiles
Digital presenceCalifornia Access Coalition financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
California Access Coalition leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
California Access Coalition funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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California Access Coalition M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about California Access Coalition
What does California Access Coalition do?
California Access Coalition is a membership-based advocacy coalition that convenes behavioral health organizations, patient advocacy groups, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, providers, and California state agency representatives. It provides legislative advocacy, networking events, webinars, and policy education aimed at eliminating barriers to medication and behavioral health treatment for Californians. Membership is offered free of charge to qualifying organizations, with operational support provided by corporate partner sponsorships.
Is California Access Coalition a public or private company?
California Access Coalition is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was California Access Coalition founded?
California Access Coalition was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is California Access Coalition based?
California Access Coalition is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does California Access Coalition make money?
One revenue line is on record: corporate Partnerships and Membership.
Who are California Access Coalition's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NAMI California, California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), California Chronic Care Coalition and California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT). Inseparable is listed as an emerging player. PhRMA is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Mental Health America and National Council for Mental Wellbeing. California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is listed as a regional player.
Does California Access Coalition have an API?
No public API is recorded for California Access Coalition.
What industry is California Access Coalition in?
California Access Coalition's product category is Healthcare Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAH, Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care, with a secondary code of BPAGACAD, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.