The California Access Coalition (CAC) was originally conceived in 1995. Rusty Selix, in partnership with pharmaceutical companies and providers, behavioral health organizations, hospitals, client networks, consumer advocates, poverty groups, law enforcement, and legislators, formed what was then known as the ACCESS Coalition. 

The CAC created a two-year campaign for legislation that included AB 659 (Miller & Polanco) and SB 1402 (Watson) to add newer medications to the Medi-Cal formulary without restrictions. After the campaign’s success, the CAC moved on to other issues including: mental health parity in insurance coverage, public mental health system funding (AB 34 Steinberg), and decriminalization of mental health challenges. The CAC played an instrumental role in the passage of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, in 2004 which dedicated state funding specifically for mental health services.