The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - In response, the department released guidance on February 11, 2026 indicating that providers will have the opportunity to earn a partial year of quality payments if they come into compliance after the February 27 deadline.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - What Have Federal Administrators Indicated About the Private Hospital Fee in 2025? According to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), federal administrators have requested changes to the state ’s submitted fee for 2025.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2025-26 Budget: Health Care Access and Information

Feb 20, 2025 - HCAI also indicates that it has reviewed data from the partner on initial tests and studies. Moreover, the partner an d HCAI are engaging with wholesalers and patients to determine distribution. As of our analysis, however, HCAI indicated that it could not provide an estimated time line to receive federal approval to sell  the product.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4979

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - The administration also indicates it plans to explore various other utilizat ion management methods. These combined efforts are estimated to generate $175  million General Fund savings in 2025-26, rising to $350  million General Fund savings in subsequent years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - While this higher level likely is more indicative of future spending, there is a chance that utilization of emergency services might also be somewhat volatile in the future, part icularly given the forthcoming changes affecting eligibility for undocumented adults in full coverage Medi ‑Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

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

Feb 5, 2025 - Recent data from the Department of Health Care Services indicate sobering centers are uncommon, with statewide capacity estimated in 2022 to be for 168 individuals. Relatively Low ‑Intensity Outpatient Facilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2025-26 Budget: CalAIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Implementation Update

Mar 6, 2025 - That said, the differences across counties and plans indicate that, at least for some Community Supports, much higher utilization is possible. For example, the very high utilization rates of Medically Tailored Meals in two counties, by two plans using the same provider, may indicate more demand for the benefit above what is currently being provided .
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5003

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

Oct 24, 2025 - CMS has indicated that states might be eligible for enhanced federal funding to upgrade their Medicaid IT systems in response to H.R.  1. As such, the Legislature likely will want to better understand the needed changes, the time line for DHCS to adopt these changes, and the potential to offset some of these costs using enhanced federal funding.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - The administration indicates that it expects approval in December of this year. Because these increases appear to meet existing federal rules, our outlook assumes they are in effect through the term of the current version of the MCO tax (through 2026).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4941

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - Public health laboratories indicate that during this period many laboratories did not receive funding to modernize infrastructure, limiting their ability to adopt new technology or scale testing services during emergencies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056