California Access Coalition

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.

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

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

• Behavioral health advocacy
• Healthcare policy
• Legislative advocacy
• Coalition membership
• Patient access

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AlkermesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner supporting CAC advocacy efforts. Alkermes is a pharmaceutical company focused on CNS disorders.
• AstraZenecaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner. AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company.
• Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner. BMS is a global biopharmaceutical company.
• Johnson & Johnson Innovative MedicineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner that has supported CAC events including LAM webinars. J&J is a major pharmaceutical company.
• IndiviorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner focused on addiction treatments.
• Intra-Cellular TherapiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner. Intra-Cellular Therapies develops CNS treatments.
• LundbeckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner. Lundbeck is focused on brain diseases.
• Neurocrine BiosciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner and co-host of TD awareness webinar in 2024. Neurocrine focuses on neurological disorders.
• Otsuka PharmaceuticalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner that has participated in CAC panels and webinars on LAMs.
• PhRMAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner. PhRMA is the pharmaceutical industry trade association.
• California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 2021 AB 933 Legislative Briefing on prescription drug rebate reform. CPAT is a coalition focused on patient access to treatment.
• Connection CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 2021 legislative briefing on 'Behavioral Health...a Public Health Emergency' with CAC.
• Perry Communications GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership managing public relations efforts for CAC. Perry Communications has been a partner for over two decades.
• California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/CAC_Updates
• Facebookfacebook.com/CACUpdates123
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-access-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Access Coalition