The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - Recent experience has shown that, once structured and enacted, rate increases can still take time to make their way to providers. This is particularly true for provider payments directed through the managed care system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

The 2025-26 Budget: Health Care Access and Information

Feb 20, 2025 - For example, generic drugs can struggle to compete with brand drugs, despite being substantially lower cost. This is because brand dru gs can come with large rebates that, on net, benefit health plans and their contracted pharmacy benefit managers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4979

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - The project is still in the early stages of the IT project approval process and no cost estimate exists. Issues for Legislative Consideration What Are the Resource Requirements for Public Health Laboratories?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

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

Mar 6, 2025 - Recuperative Services Recuperative care (medical respite) Short ‑term residential care for beneficiaries who no longer require hospitalization, but still need to recover from injury or illness. Respite services Short ‑term relief provided to caregivers of beneficiaries who require intermittent temporary supervision.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5003

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

Mar 6, 2025 - With regard to income, seniors and persons with disabilities still must have countable income below 138  percent of the FPL —$20,783 for an individual in 2025. In general, seniors and persons with disabilities with income over this threshold still can be eligible for Medi ‑Cal but must pay a share of cost.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

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

Feb 5, 2025 - These facilities provide a safe place where individuals can wait for the effects of drugs and/or alcohol to wear off while being monitored for medical issues. Sobering centers can provide opportunities for handoffs to SUD treatment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - Several factors can drive changes in federal rebates. For example, increasing use of generic drugs, which come with lower costs and lower rebates than brand name drugs, can drive down rebates. State Supplemental Rebates Appear to Be Increasing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026

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

Jan 13, 2025 - Instead, the gains appear largely tied to the booming stock market, a situation which can change rapidly and without warning. The  administration appears to share some of these concerns, noting recent job losses among high ‑wage workers and the risks posed by the inherent volatility of tax receipts tied to stock market gains.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951