Health and Human Services

The 2021-22 Budget

Medi-Cal Budget Package


The Governor’s 2021-22 budget would provide $28.4 billion General Fund ($122.2 billion total funds) to Medi-Cal, a $5.9 billion General Fund increase compared to 2020-21. This package of posts will contain our analysis of technical changes to the Medi-Cal budget—including our assessment of the Governor’s significant projected caseload increases. Additionally, this package will include a series analyzing the Governor’s far-reaching California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal. Finally, this package will contain our analyses of the Governor’s behavioral health proposals that relate to Medi-Cal. Bookmark this page in your browser to easily return to it as we publish the entire package in the coming weeks.

For analyses on the May Revision, see our May Revision: LAO Analyses page.


Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget (2/16/21)

This post analyzes the major adjustments to the Medi-Cal budget in 2020-21 and 2021-22, with a focus on the technical adjustments such as the administration’s caseload estimates.

Medi-Cal Enterprise System Modernization Effort (2/17/21)

This post analyzes, and provides recommendations to the Legislature on, the 2021-22 Governor’s Budget proposal for the Department of Health Care Services to continue the replacement of several Medi-Cal information technology systems and to plan the modernization of the remaining systems under a new effort called the Medi-Cal Enterprise System Modernization.

Behavioral Health: Medi-Cal Student Services Funding Proposal (2/17/21)

This post analyzes the Governor’s proposal in the Department of Health Care Services to provide $200 million General Fund ($400 million total funds) one time to provide incentive payments to Medi-Cal managed care plans to increase the number of students receiving behavioral health services.

Behavioral Health: Continuum Infrastructure Funding Proposal (2/17/21)

This post analyzes the Governor’s proposal in the Department of Health Care Services to provide $750 million General Fund—on a one-time basis—in competitive grants to counties to acquire or renovate facilities for community behavioral health services.

Assessment of CalHEERS Dashboard (3/25/21)

Supplemental report language adopted by the Legislature in 2020-21 directed our office to provide an assessment of a new dashboard developed by the administration for Medi-Cal eligibility functionality issues in the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention System—an information technology system. This post provides our assessment of the dashboard and associated process changes, and identifies opportunities for legislative oversight going forward.

Analysis of the Governor’s Medi-Cal Telehealth Proposal (5/13/21)

This budget series post provides an overview of the Governor’s January budget proposal for an ongoing, post-pandemic Medi-Cal telehealth policy; an assessment of the Governor’s proposal; and issues for legislative consideration.

 


CalAIM


CalAIM: The Overarching Issues (2/9/21)

The California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal is a set of reforms to expand, transform, and streamline Medi-Cal service delivery and financing. This post—the first in a series assessing different aspects of the Governor’s proposal—provides a brief overview of CalAIM, summarizes key changes from last year’s withdrawn proposal, and analyzes overarching issues related to CalAIM.

Analysis of CalAIM Financing Issues (2/16/21)

The California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal is a set of reforms to expand, transform, and streamline Medi-Cal service delivery and financing.

CalAIM: Equity Considerations (3/12/21)

The California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal is a set of reforms to expand, transform, and streamline Medi-Cal service delivery and financing. This post—the third in a series assessing different aspects of the Governor’s proposal—analyzes CalAIM’s potential to reduce health disparities, and therefore promote health equity.

CalAIM: New Directions for Services for Seniors and Persons With Disabilities (3/15/21)

The California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal is a far-reaching set of reforms to expand, transform, and streamline Medi-Cal service delivery and financing. This post—the fourth in a series assessing different aspects of the Governor’s proposal—analyzes CalAIM proposals targeted at seniors and persons with disabilities, including new benefits and structural changes to how long-term services and supports (LTSS) are administered. (LTSS include, among other supports and services, institutional care in nursing homes and home- and community-based services such as home care and personal care services.)