An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - Some of the systems developed during the pandemic, such as SaPHIRE, h ave had a major impact on how public health laboratories report laboratory results to the state and has the potential to significantly improve this function.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

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

Feb 5, 2025 - The state has a clear interest in building out behavioral h ealth infrastructure in California to avoid these consequences. Program Overview and Budget BHCIP a Key Component of Overall State Strategy to Increase Supply of Behavioral Health Services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Health

Sep 17, 2024 - This is because h igh-risk populations have greater access to health coverage following federal enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010. With the end of MRMIP, the spending plan reallocates the program ’s funding source —fines and penalties paid by health plans —to help offset General Fund spending in Medi-Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4930

The 2021-22 Budget: Behavioral Health: Continuum Infrastructure Funding Proposal

Feb 17, 2021 - The Legislature may wish to ask the administration ( 1)  h ow long counties would have to submit their applications for grant funding, and ( 2)  h ow the administration would work with counties to ensure they are able to meet any deadlines outlined under the grant program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4379

The 2021-22 Budget: Behavioral Health: Medi-Cal Student Services Funding Proposal

Feb 17, 2021 - The Legislature may wish to ask the administration for further details on ( 1)  h ow the amount in incentive payments proposal was determined and ( 2)  w hat analysis the administration conducted that indicated that this amount would be sufficient to induce the desired behavior from managed care plans.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4377

The 2021-22 Budget: Assessment of CalHEERS Dashboard

Mar 25, 2021 - More specifically, the Legislature tasked our office with assessing ( 1)  w hether the dashboard comprehensively captures issues known to stakeholders and the administration that cause delays or errors in eligibility processing, ( 2)  h ow the dashboard is being used as part of a process to set a time line for fixing the identified issues, and ( 3)  o pportunities for legislative oversight.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4408

The 2021-22 Budget: Analysis of the Governor’s Medi-Cal Telehealth Proposal

May 13, 2021 - Below, we highlight several outstanding questions we have about the fiscal impact of telehealt h expansions. How Do Provider Expenses for Delivering Telehealth Services Differ From In ‑Person Services?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

The 2023-24 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Feb 15, 2023 - To qualify, an individual must h ave a disability that is substantial, expected to continue indefinitely, and which began before the age of 18. There are no income ‑related eligibility criteria. As of December 2022, DDS serves about 330,000 Lanterman ‑eligible individuals and  another 2,900 children ages three and four who are provisionally eligible.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4683

The 2023-24 Budget: Whole Child Model Expansion

May 5, 2023 - Moreover, medical equipment providers that were interviewed in the evaluation noted more streamlined and muc h faster authorization of services in the Whole Child Model (for example, from 45 days to 60 days under traditional CCS to around five days under the Whole Child Model).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4767

The 2021-22 Budget: LAO Preliminary Comments on the May Revision Medi-Cal Budget

May 21, 2021 - Available budget documents do not indicate ( 1)  w hat kinds of agencies would be eligible to receive this funding, ( 2)  h ow the funding would be distributed, ( 3)  w hat capacity ‑building activities would be funded, and ( 4)  w hat the rationale for the proposed funding amount of $ 200  m illion total funds is.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4436