The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Administration Requests One ‑Time Funding to Continue Planning for LOIS in 2026 ‑27. The Governor ’s budget proposes $5.7  million one ‑time General Fund to continue the PAL process for LOIS. At the time of this report, DDS was working to complete Stage 2 of the PAL process, or the Alternatives Analysis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - The new rules are already technically in effect, though the federal Department of Health and Human Services can grant states additional time to comply with the new rules. Initial federal guidance released late last year suggested that California might have to restructure its health plan tax in June 2026, with potentially more time available for other kinds of provider taxes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - Over Time, Medi ‑Cal Will Enroll Fewer People at Higher Cost. Our outlook estimates Medi ‑Cal will enroll fewer people over time, with caseload falling from nearly 15  million people in 2024 ‑25 to nearly 12  million people by 2029 ‑30.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - The program ’s initial operations had been supported by $60  million one-time General Fund, provided in 2018-19 and spent down over time. To cover costs in 2025-26, the spending plan reappropriates the remaining unspent General Fund amount ($6  million) and provides additional support from a few special funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

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

Oct 24, 2025 - …and Their Timing Remains Uncertain. In  addition, the time line for some key changes remains uncertain. Most notably, when the state will need to comply with the new disproportionality rule for provider taxes is uncertain.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - Over time, the initial rebate increases if the drug ’s price rises faster than inflation. Consequently, older drugs (which have tended to have price increases over time in excess of inflation) can come with much higher rebates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026

The 2025-26 Budget: Understanding Recent Increases in the Medi-Cal Senior Caseload

Mar 6, 2025 - During the 18 months in which the asset limit was increased, but not eliminated, first‑time‑enrolling seniors in Medi‑Cal increased by about 60 percent. Once the asset test was fully eliminated, first‑time‑enrolling seniors were more than twice the level as prior to the policy change.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - LDX would also help to automate a number of laboratory reporting functions to further reduce staff time spent on submitting and processing test results. CDPH is in the process of developing and t esting a number of components for the project, but a final time line for completion is unknown.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

The 2025-26 Budget: Health Care Access and Information

Feb 20, 2025 - Brand Name Drugs Tend to Cost Much More Than Generic Drugs … Companies that develop and patent new drugs have exclusive rights to sell their product for a limited period of time. Once this time expires, other drug makers can produce and sell their own generic versions of the drugs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4979

The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - Given the much more expansive scope of rate increases under Proposition  35, it is likely similar timing issues will occur, at least initially. To that end, the Legislature likely will want to work with DHCS, managed care plans, and providers to better track the timing of payments.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992