The 2024-25 Budget: The MCO Tax Package at May Revision

May 22, 2024 - Some money would remain in the reserve after this version of the MCO tax ends in 2026 to help sustain the augmentations in the future. This year ’s early action shifted $3.1  billion out of the reserve to help address the budget problem.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4905

The 2015-16 Budget: Major Features of the Adopted Plan (Health and Human Services)

Jun 19, 2015 - Establishes New Earned Income Tax Credit. The budget package includes $380  million General Fund for a new Earned Income Tax Credit, designed to increase the after –tax income of the state ’s workers with the lowest incomes.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3277

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - For the period spanning from January 1, 2025 through June  30,  2026, providers could earn the quality incentive portion of rate models by enrolling in DDS ’s Provider Directory. As a budget solution, the 2025 ‑26 Budget Act added three criteria that providers must satisfy to be eligible to earn a quality payment equal to 10   percent of the rate model beginning
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2019-20 Budget: Analysis of the Carve Out of Medi-Cal Pharmacy Services From Managed Care

Apr 5, 2019 - State Negotiates “Supplemental Rebates ” on Top of Federal Rebates, But Only for Prescription Drugs Paid for Through FFS. As previously discussed, DHCS has a preferred drug list that steers utilization toward preferred drugs within Medi ‑Cal FFS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3997

Update on COVID-19 Spending in California

Nov 5, 2020 - Federal law enacted in March  2020 made a few significant changes to UI, including providing recipients with an additional $600 per week on top of their typical benefit through July 31, 2020 and expanding UI to cover self-employed workers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4292

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - (We also include links to Appendix tables at the end of this post and the top left of this page. These appendix tables itemize select proposals by policy area based on our understanding at this time.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432

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

Oct 24, 2025 - The new requirement will only apply to childless adults earning more than 100  percent of the federal poverty limit. Certain services, such as primary care and behavioral health care, are excluded from the  requirement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - As Figure  4 shows, the top 30 drugs in terms of spending (out of about 950 drug categories) represented less than 20  percent of all prescriptions (left column) but more than 50  percent of gross spending (right column).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026

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

Feb 5, 2025 - The $4.4  billion comes on top of $1.8  billion in state and federal funds that have already been dedicated to this purpose in a multiyear spending initiative begun in 2021 ‑ 22 —the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

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

Mar 26, 2019 - Depositing Money Into Reserves Generates Interest Payments. Money held in the state ’s cash reserves is not idle. The State Treasurer ’s Office (STO) invests state funds, including reserves, in the Pooled Money Investment Account (PMIA), generating an investment return.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3988