The 2019-20 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 14, 2019 - The administration estimates this would extend health care coverage to 138,000 undocumented immigrants and would cost $ 134  m illion General Fund in 2019 ‑20. Estimates suggest the current number of uninsured Californians —including those who are undocumented —is roughly 3. 5  m illion.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3916

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - As a result, as Figure  2 shows, Medi ‑Cal comprises 19  percent of overall General Fund spending by the end of our outlook period —slightly lower than the 20  percent share in the 2025 ‑26 enacted  budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

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

Oct 24, 2025 - Based on July 2025 unemployment data, about 20 counties in California currently meet the criteria, and several more are close. We estimate that this additional exemption alone could exclude at least a few hundred thousand individuals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - The reason for the reduction is the recent voter approval of Proposition  35 (2024), which requires the state to spend less MCO tax money on offsetting General Fund spending and more money on provider rate increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Under S B  3 , the statewide minimum wage will continue to increase by up to 3.5  percent each year, depending on inflation. In recent years, the cumulative cost of annual minimum wage increases under S B  3 have represented about 5  percent to 10  percent of General Fund spending on services purchased for DDS consumers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2019-20 Budget: California Spending Plan—Health and Human Services

Oct 17, 2019 - The spending plan provides $533.5  million from all fund sources for the Secretary in 2019 ‑20, up $50.1  million relative to the revised estimate for 2018 ‑19. The General Fund accounts for $19.9  million of total funds in 2019 ‑20, up $14.2  million (or 246  percent) from 2018 ‑19.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4104

Update on COVID-19 Spending in California

Nov 5, 2020 - The budget anticipates this change will result in lower total state General Fund costs of nearly $8  billion over 2019-20 and 2020-21. We consider this “flexible funding, ” because, essentially, these additional federal funds free up General Fund dollars that can be spent on any purpose.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4292

Mental Health Services Act: Revenue Volatility and the Governor’s Proposal to Reduce Allowable County Reserves

Jul 13, 2023 - Figure  5 shows the chances that reserves allowable under current law could cover revenue declines of up to 40  percent. Earlier, we suggested a target for allowable reserves to be almost certain to cover a 20  percent revenue decline and very likely to cover a 30  percent revenue decline.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4780

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - In 2023 ‑24, we estimate these rebates comprised 3  percent of gross spending, up from as low as 1  percent in some years. This increase was expected following the switch to the Medi ‑Cal Rx system in 2022.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026

Enhancing Federal Financial Participation for Consumers Served by the Department of Developmental Services

Nov 9, 2021 - Moreover, some individuals and families uncomfortable with signing up for Medi ‑Cal may not be able to afford what would have been the federal portion of the cost of the RC ‑coordinated services. Consequently, this approach could be more punitive in nature than the three alternative approaches discussed below, given that a family would have to pay for or forgo services if they did not want to enroll the consumer in Medi ‑Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4471