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

May 13, 2021 - The concept of covering telehealth services at the same payment rate as health care services provided in ‑person is known as “payment parity. ” A number of states have in place telehealth payment parity policies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Administration Identifies Several Strategies to Mitigate Disenrollment Impacts. The administration has indicated it will prioritize using administrative data to automatically identify individuals who are excluded or exempt from the community engagement requirement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

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

Feb 5, 2025 - This platform provides behavioral health services to children and youth aged 25 and younger —regardless of payer source —through (1)  interactive exercises and games, (2)  automated screening and assessment tools, and (3)  direct services delivered by peers and coaches.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - In 2016, the Legislature appropriated ongoing funding for the Disparity Funds Program, which awards grants to RCs and community ‑based organizations for strategies to reduce disparities in service authorizations, utilization, and spending.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Health

Apr 5, 2022 - The Legislature could consider adding new data submission requirements on measures related to the health impacts of climate change to facilitate statewide tracking of impact trends and guide state ‑level responses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4580

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Health Budget and Policy

Oct 15, 2020 - Behavioral Health Parity Investigations. The spending plan includes $2.8  million (growing to $4.7  million in 2021 ‑22 and ongoing) from the Managed Care Fund for the Department of Managed Health Care to investigate health plans for compliance with federal behavioral health parity requirements.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4281

The 2022-23 Budget: Public Health Foundational Support

Feb 16, 2022 - While the spending plan does not currently reflect a strategic plan for IT ‑related expenditures, CDPH indicated it will be developing an IT strategy after hiring a Chief IT Strategist. Nevertheless, the Legislature could request that CDPH produce a more specific time line for this strategy and its associated deliverables and seek a description of the steps the administration will undertake to develop this  strategy.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4544

The 2019-20 Budget: Governor's Proposals for Infants and Toddlers With Special Needs

Feb 28, 2019 - In addition, the state may have to develop a concurrent strategy to address potential provider shortages which might otherwise preclude serving all eligible children. Depending on how such a strategy was structured, it too may increase state costs by tens of millions of dollars.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3954

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

May 16, 2019 - Uncertainty Around Whether Existing State Programs and Strategies Have Been Effective. Overall, existing state mental health workforce programs and strategies may have had some positive impact in increasing the overall number of mental health professionals throughout the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4049

The 2021-22 Budget: LAO Preliminary Comments on the Governor’s Major May Revision Behavioral Health Proposals

May 24, 2021 - Given the substantial size of this initiative, a coordinated and well-developed statewide strategy for evaluating its effectiveness will be necessary to (1)  ensure that the state is achieving desired specified outcomes as a result of the initiative ’s various investments and (2)  determine what ongoing resources for the initiative are warranted.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4439