How Will the Changing Landscape Affect California’s Health Care System?

May 4, 2026 - Medi ‑Cal pays safety net clinics for each visit from a Medi ‑Cal beneficiary. Each clinic ’s rate is set based on its reported costs. As a budget solution, the state will reduce these rates for visits from adult Medi ‑Cal enrollees with UIS beginning in July 2026.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5180

The 2021-22 Budget: Analysis of the Governor’s Medi-Cal Telehealth Proposal

May 13, 2021 - Available research (which predates the onset of the COVID ‑ 19 p andemic) suggests that residents of states with payment parity laws utilize telehealth services to a greater extent than residents of states without such laws.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Specifically, in order to be eligible, providers must (1)  comply with Electronic Visit Verification, (2)  comply with the federal HCBS Settings Rule, and (3)  complete independent audits or reviews if total payments from RCs are above a certain threshold.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

Impact of COVID-19 on Health Care Access

May 7, 2021 - Children ’s vaccinations and mental health services are down by over 10  percent, while outpatient visits (which include well-child visits, where vaccinations and developmental screenings often take place) and dental visits are down by 30  percent to 40  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4426

COVID-19: Federal Health-Related Response

Mar 23, 2020 - DHCS requested that payment rates for telehealth visits be equivalent to in-person visits. While the federal government generally has not directly responded to the state ’s request to broaden the allowable use of telehealth in Medi-Cal, other forms of federal guidance, such as blanket waivers, provide significant new flexibilities in this area, which we understand generally apply to Medi-Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4209

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 24, 2022 - The new policy will maintain the rates currently paid for telehealth services, include various changes to protect patient consent and choices, and reduce the use of audio-only visits in favor of in-person or video-only visits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4642

Federal COVID-19 Response Actions Affecting Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities

Apr 16, 2020 - While county social workers must still perform initial assessments to determine IHSS eligibility, they may do so using a telehealth option in lieu of face-to-face visits. Additionally, counties may suspend recipient annual reassessments through June 30, 2020.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4221

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Health Budget and Policy

Oct 15, 2020 - Adjustment for Avoidable Emergency Room Visits. Many emergency room visits are considered to be avoidable through better outreach; care coordination; and access to other, more appropriate forms of care.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4281

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - This is because, other than the asset limit reinstatement, the solutions generally are utilization management strategies, benefit reductions, and provider rate reductions —all ways to curtail spending without directly affecting caseload.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

Considering Medi-Cal in the Midst of a Changing Fiscal and Policy Landscape

Oct 24, 2025 - Changes for Adults Affects Adults, Particularly Those Without Children, in a Number of Ways. Another key area of focus for H.R.  1 is adults enrolled in Medicaid, especially those without children. From a fiscal perspective, childless adults are among the most expensive population for the federal government because of the relatively high federal share of cost (90  percent).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083