The Senate Health Committee heard from a variety of substance use
disorder experts, providers, and clients yesterday during their
informational hearing on Substance Use Disorder Treatment in
California.
Health Committee Chair Ed Hernandez convened the hearing after a
series of media articles shed light on the unscrupulous practices
of unlicensed residential substance use “Sober Living
Environments” or SLE’s.
These 6-bed or less facilities do not provide medical services
and are not currently subject to licensing or certification in
California. They differ from the licensed residential care
centers that counties typically contract with and have increased
in number since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Counties,
the state Departments of Health Care Services, Social Services,
and Insurance, the Attorney General’s office, and private sector
health plans have struggled to navigate this “wild west” of SLE’s
in the state – not to mention the folks and their families who
are seeking recovery options.
The Committee heard from representatives from all of the
above-named parties, as well as recovery home operators, clients,
and city organizations urging the curtailment of these services
in their communities. The hearing was informational, meaning no
specific legislation was discussed, but the Senators who attended
were keenly interested in the issue and verbally indicated that
there appeared to be several opportunities for improvement within
the industry. For a hearing agenda and materials, please visit
this link.
CSAC has a long-standing policy supporting the role of SLE’s
as an important community-based support option, as well as a
critical option for the continuum of housing options those with
substance use disorders require. Counties are also supportive of
efforts to create an accreditation, licensing, and/or regulatory
structure to ensure consistent quality among privately operated
SLE’s, but are mindful of any unintended consequences or
infringements on existing state, federal, and case law regarding
these issues. Further, our members continually run into
neighborhood opposition to all types of necessary recovery
facilities.
CSAC will continue to engage on these issues on behalf of county
supervisors, including any efforts to improve the SLE option in
our communities.
