Health and Human Services Publications
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Stabilizing Services for Consumers in the DDS System Item 4300-101-0001
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June 3, 2019 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee
The 2019-20 May Revision: Update to Governor's 1991 Realignment Proposals
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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.
The 2019-20 May Revision: Analysis of the Governor’s January and May Mental Health Workforce Proposals
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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.
Governor’s May Revision Update: Health Insurance Affordability Proposals
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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.
The 2019-20 May Revision: Governor's May Revision Medi-Cal Budget
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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.
Options and Considerations for Implementing the DDS Rate Study
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May 9, 2019 - Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services
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.
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 to Honorable Reyes on Service Provider Rates in the Department of Developmental Services System
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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.
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.
The 2019-20 Budget: Analysis of the Carve Out of Medi-Cal Pharmacy Services From Managed Care
April 5, 2019 - This report analyzes one of the two initiatives included in the Governor's executive order: to transition the pharmacy services benefit in Medi‑Cal, the state’s largest low‑income health care program, from managed care to entirely a fee‑for‑service (FFS) benefit directly paid for and administered by the state.
The 2019-20 Budget: Analysis of Proposed Increase in State Funding for Local Child Support Agencies
March 26, 2019 - In this report, we provide background on the current child support program. We then describe and assess the Governor’s 2019 20 proposal to create a new budgeting methodology that would increase funding for certain LCSAs by nearly $60 million General Fund. We recommend that the Legislature withhold action on the funding proposal until the administration submits the statutorily required report identifying potential state and local operational efficiencies.
The 2019-20 Budget: Undoing California’s Outstanding Budgetary Deferrals
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March 26, 2019 - When facing budget problems in the past, the state has “deferred” payments from one fiscal year into the next, providing significant one-time budgetary savings. While the state has already addressed many of its outstanding deferrals, there are still three major categories of deferrals remaining. These are related to: (1) state employee payroll, (2) pension payments, and (3) Medi-Cal payments. The Governor proposes using $1.7 billion to undo the payroll and pension deferrals. We find this would improve the state’s fiscal position and moderately improve the state’s budgetary practices, however, this approach has shortcomings relative to alternatives. This post recommends an alternative approach to the Governor’s proposal.
Housing and Homelessness Funding Impacting Children
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March 25, 2019 - These materials were prepared for an informational hearing about housing challenges and their impact on the well-being of children by the Senate Select Committee on the Social Determinants of Children’s Well-Being.
The 2019-20 Budget: The Governor's Proposal for a New Office of Digital Innovation
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March 22, 2019 - In this post, we describe the Governor’s 2019-20 budget proposal to create a new office within California’s Government Operations Agency—the Office of Digital Innovation. We then provide issues for legislative consideration, including key questions about the office’s implementation and legislative oversight of its activities.
Health and Human Services Staff
- Mark Newton
- (916) 319-8323
- Deputy Legislative Analyst: Health, Developmental Services, and Technology
- Ryan Anderson
- (916) 319-8308
- CalWORKs/CalFresh/Developmental Services
- Jackie Barocio
- (916) 319-8333
- In-Home Supportive Services/Aging Programs/Child Support/Veterans Affairs
- Jason Constantouros
- (916) 319-8322
- Medi-Cal/Hospital Finance/Managed Care/Health Care Affordability and Workforce Development
- Brian Metzker
- (916) 319-8354
- Privacy, Security, and Technology
- Angela Short
- (916) 319-8309
- Teachers' Retirement Policy/ Child Welfare/ Community Care Licensing
- Luke Koushmaro
- (916) 319-8355
- Medi-Cal/Long-Term Care/Family Health/Covered California
- Will Owens
- (916) 319-8341
- Public Health/Behavioral Health/State Hospitals
- Ginni Bella Navarre
- (916) 319-8342
- Deputy Legislative Analyst: Human Services and Governance