Staff
Mark Newton
(916) 319-8323
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Health, Developmental Services, and Technology
Jason Constantouros
(916) 319-8322
Medi-Cal/Managed Care/Family Health/Health Care Affordability and Workforce Development
Brian Metzker
(916) 319-8354
Privacy, Security, and Technology
Ryan Miller
(916) 319-8356
Medi-Cal/Behavioral Health/Covered California/CalHHS Agency Issues
Angela Short
(916) 319-8309
Child Welfare, Child Support, Community Services and Development, Community Care Licensing, CalSTRS
Karina Hendren
(916) 319-8352
Medi-Cal/Long-Term Care/Developmental Services
Will Owens
(916) 319-8341
Public Health/Behavioral Health/State Hospitals
Sonia Schrager Russo
(916) 319-8361
CalWORKs/CalFresh
Juwan Trotter
(916) 319-8358
In-Home Supportive Services/Aging Programs
Ginni Bella Navarre
(916) 319-8342
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Human Services and Governance


Publications

Health and Human Services

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Handout

Overview of Public Community Mental Health Services Funding and the Mental Health Services Act

August 21, 2019 - Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review and Assembly Committee on Health


Handout

The Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal)

June 27, 2019 - Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation


Handout

Item 7100-001-0588—Employment Development Department Paid Family Leave (PFL)

June 4, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee


Handout

Item 4260-101-3305 Proposition 56 Medi-Cal Spending

June 3, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee


Handout

The MCO Tax Item 4260-101-0001

June 3, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee


Handout

Stabilizing Services for Consumers in the DDS System Item 4300-101-0001

June 3, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee


Post

The 2019-20 May Revision: Update to Governor's 1991 Realignment Proposals

May 29, 2019 - In this web post, we describe the update to the Governor’s 1991 realignment proposal introduced in January. Additionally, we assess whether the changes included in the Governor’s May Revision align with our realignment principles and address the issues we raised for Legislative consideration in January.


Post

The 2019-20 May Revision: Analysis of the Governor’s January and May Mental Health Workforce Proposals

May 16, 2019 - In January, the Governor proposed a $50 million one-time General Fund augmentation for existing mental health workforce programs that are administered by OSHPD. In the May Revision, the Governor proposes an additional $100 million in MHSA funding for mental health workforce. This post (1) provides background on the state’s mental health workforce, (2) gives an overview of existing programs and funding aimed at improving the state’s mental health workforce, (3) summarizes and assesses the Governor’s proposals, and (4) provides options for legislative consideration.


Post

Governor’s May Revision Update: Health Insurance Affordability Proposals

May 15, 2019 - With the May Revision (and prior to the May Revision with the release of proposed implementing legislation), the administration has provided additional details on its January proposal to impose a state individual mandate and use penalty revenues from the mandate to fund health insurance subsidies. In this post, we summarize key updates to the Governor’s proposals and raise some issues for the Legislature’s consideration.


Post

The 2019-20 May Revision: Governor's May Revision Medi-Cal Budget

May 14, 2019 - The Governor’s May Revision includes Medi-Cal spending of $19.7 billion from the General Fund ($93.4 billion total funds) in 2018-19 and $23 billion from the General Fund ($102.2 billion total funds) in 2019-20. As will be described in this post, about half of the reduction in estimated spending in 2018-19 reflects a shift of costs in Medi-Cal to a different budget item, rather than a true reduction in estimated program costs. After accounting for this shift, the May Revision is about $350 million below January estimates across 2018-19 and 2019-20.


Handout

Options and Considerations for Implementing the DDS Rate Study

May 9, 2019 - Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services


Report

The 2019-20 Budget: Assessing the Governor’s Primary Care Physician Residency Proposals

May 9, 2019 - To obtain a license to practice medicine, California law requires all medical school graduates to complete three years of postgraduate training. Most physician‑trainees fulfill this requirement by completing a residency program. The state currently funds two initiatives to support residency programs for primary care physicians. The first initiative is named after its legislative authors, Song‑Brown, and is administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). The second initiative is authorized by Proposition 56 and is administered by the University of California (UC). The Governor proposes making certain limited‑term funding for these initiatives ongoing. In this brief, we provide background on residency programs, describe the Governor’s two associated budget proposals, assess those proposals, and make associated recommendations.


Report

The 2019-20 Budget: Analysis of the Governor’s Mental Health Workforce Proposal

May 9, 2019 - The Governor proposes a $50 million one‑time General Fund augmentation for existing mental health workforce programs that are administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). This brief (1) provides background on the state’s mental health workforce, (2) gives an overview of existing programs and funding aimed at improving the state’s mental health workforce, (3) summarizes and assesses the Governor’s proposal, and (4) provides options for legislative consideration.


Letter

Letter to Honorable Reyes on Service Provider Rates in the Department of Developmental Services System

May 2, 2019 - Letter to the Honorable Eloise Gómez Reyes on actions that could be taken by the Legislature in the 2019-20 budget based on a contracted study of service provider rates in the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) system.


Report

The 2019-20 Budget: Reorganization of the Division of Juvenile Justice

April 10, 2019 - This report provides an overview of California’s juvenile justice system including DJJ and highlights several key questions raised by the Governor’s proposal for the Legislature to consider as the administration provides more detailed information on the proposal in the coming months.