The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - In light of projected structural budget deficits, we recommend that the Legislature closely examine General Fund spending across the budget, including in DDS. We provide this information to help inform the Legislature ’s deliberations and conversations about its budget priorities over the coming months and years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - That said, we are not aware of research that has examined the impacts of premium changes specifically on the undocumented population. This population could be particularly sensitive to higher costs, yielding larger exits than suggested by available research.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

The 2025-26 Budget: Health Care Access and Information

Feb 20, 2025 - According to HCAI, a forthcoming report to the Legislature will further examine the feasibility of the state engaging more directly in drug manufacturing. With  key implementation details of the insulin initiative still uncertain, the Legislature likely will want to work with HCAI to better understand the continued need for these funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4979

Building California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure: Progress Update and Opportunities for the Proposition 1 Bond

Feb 5, 2025 - The report examines the statewide capacity to provide behavioral health services across the full spectrum of behavioral health care. Based on data from SAMHSA, DHCS estimated that over 600 facilities provide outpatient mental health services and nearly 800 facilities provide SUD services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

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

May 13, 2021 - Studies examining the clinical effectiveness of telehealth generally focus on specific health care service types. (For example, one study we reviewed examined the impact of infectious disease consultations through telehealth on hospital lengths of stay.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

The 2023-24 Budget: Whole Child Model Expansion

May 5, 2023 - The scope of the evaluation did not include examining per-enrollee cost or overall cost-effectiveness of the Whole Child Model relative to traditional CCS. To date, we are unaware of an analysis that examines cost effectiveness in the Whole Child Model —meaning that the Legislature does not know whether the Whole Child Model is more or less cost-effective than traditional CCS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4767

Analysis of California’s Physician-Supervision Requirement for Certified Nurse Midwives

Mar 11, 2020 - Importantly, the studies that examine births in freestanding birth centers do not necessarily examine which type of provider attends the planned birth. Therefore, the studies do not show the impact of the provider type on safety and quality within this setting.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4197

Improving Access to Dental Services for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities

Sep 27, 2018 - For up to 18 m onths, an RDHAP may treat (but not diagnose) a patient who has not been examined by a dentist or physician. After 18 m onths, the RDHAP must provide documentation that such an examination occurred and obtain a written prescription (valid for up to two years) from the dentist to treat the patient.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3884

The 2019-20 Budget: Analysis of the Department of Developmental Services Budget

Feb 25, 2019 - On several occasions over the past four decades, the Legislature has called for examinations of the system and its network of service providers, with an eye toward upholding the intent of the Lanterman Act and sustaining quality services and choice for consumers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3952

The 2019-20 Budget: Undoing California’s Outstanding Budgetary Deferrals

Mar 26, 2019 - Using the criteria described above, we examine the potential implications of the Governor ’s proposal. In particular, the Governor ’s proposal to end the payroll and pension deferrals: Improves the State ’s Fiscal Position.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3988