The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - The caseload estimate is developed by identifying current enrollees subject to the requirement, removing those expected to be exempt or compliant, and then assuming that half of those remaining would be disenrolled due to noncompliance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - The department stated that its budget projections for 2026 ‑27 do not incorporate any potential added costs due to the changes in H.R 1. Will the department be able to determine whether its costs increase in the future due to H.R. 1?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

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

Mar 6, 2025 - Based on our review of the legislative history, the elimination of the asset test was meant to remove a barrier to enrollment, encourage continuity of coverage, and make eligibility determinations between MAGI and non ‑MAGI populations more equitable, among other goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

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

Oct 24, 2025 - …But Potentially With Added Complexity. Adding more flexibilities also could come with the potential downside of more complexity for beneficiaries and counties. For example, exempting high unemployment counties from work requirements could create more volatility.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

Mental Health Services Act: Proposed Change in Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s Role

Jul 13, 2023 - Removes MHSOAC ’s General Oversight Role Over MHSA Spending. The Governor ’s proposal would remove MHSOAC ’s general oversight role to evaluate county spending and performance of various components of the MHSA, including adult, older adult, and youth behavioral health services; PEI; and Innovation programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4781

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - For example, DHCS plans to end an existing policy providing automatic coverage of drugs for existing users when the drugs are removed from Medi-Cal ’s contract drug list. Moving forward, users will need to receive prior authorization to continue using the drugs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

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

Feb 5, 2025 - Strategies to do so have included expanding the behavioral health workforce; adding benefits and increasing rates in Medi ‑Cal; and increasing capacity through managed care plans, schools, and in other  settings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

Mental Health Services Act: Proposed Bond to Fund Behavioral Health Facilities and Veterans Housing

Aug 17, 2023 - Notably, based on information from county officials, the researchers removed 30  percent (about 1,800) of facilities from the state data. Reasons that facilities were removed from the state data included facility closures, an absence of licensed psychiatric beds, or facilities not accepting patients with mental health conditions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4790

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

Jul 13, 2023 - One way to measure the variability in a data series is average deviation (AD). AD summarizes —for a given time period —how many percentage points the data in a series deviate from the average growth rate.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4780

Mental Health Services Act: Impact of Governor's Proposal on Funding for Children and Youth

Aug 10, 2023 - As discussed above, adding a funding requirement to the FSP category may increase funding for an effective approach to providing children and youth mental health services with a limited impact on current service levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4786