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 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - One possible reason for our higher estimate is that our model reflects not only disenrollment among current enrollees, but also reduced enrollment flows over time and a persistent risk of disenrollment among eligible individuals due to added administrative burden.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

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

Mar 6, 2025 - In the paragraphs that follow, we provide our analysis that results in ou r estimate of at least 165,000 seniors being added due to eligibility expansions since 2020. (As a consequence of this estimate, it follows naturally that we estimate up to 60,000  seniors being added due to the effects of continuous coverage, the unwinding, and unwinding flexibilities, for a total increase of 225,000 seniors due to policy changes.)
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: Revenue Volatility and the Governor’s Proposal to Reduce Allowable County Reserves

Jul 13, 2023 - Generally speaking, a revenue source with an AD of 10  percentage points over a given time period would be twice as volatile as a revenue source with an AD of 5  percentage points. See “Measuring Volatility ” in our February 2017 report, Volatility of the Personal Income Tax Base , for a detailed description and hypothetical calculation of AD.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4780

Enhancing Federal Financial Participation for Consumers Served by the Department of Developmental Services—An Interim Update

Apr 19, 2021 - Because of the needed level of care, this pathway disregards the parents ’ income and considers only the child ’s income to determine Medi-Cal eligibility. (A child ’s income could include child support or trust fund income.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4415

Enhancing Federal Financial Participation for Consumers Served by the Department of Developmental Services

Nov 9, 2021 - Added State Costs Outside the DDS System Although DDS likely could achieve some savings by drawing down federal funding for children who are currently 100 p ercent state funded, there would be added Medi ‑Cal costs outside the DDS system for services such as IHSS and for regular Medi ‑Cal health insurance costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4471

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - With regard to income, seniors and persons with disabilities still must have countable income below 138  percent of the federal poverty level. This budget solution provides General Fund savings of $45  million in 2025-26, $ 343  million in 2026-27, and $ 510  million in 2027-28 and ongoing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - H.R. 1 requires states to impose cost sharing, not to exceed $35 per service, on most benefits to childless adults with incomes above the federal poverty level. The new requirement becomes effective October 2028.
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 - 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