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

Jul 13, 2023 - Figure  5 shows the chances that reserves allowable under current law could cover revenue declines of up to 40  percent. Earlier, we suggested a target for allowable reserves to be almost certain to cover a 20  percent revenue decline and very likely to cover a 30  percent revenue decline.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4780

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - As a result, as Figure  2 shows, Medi ‑Cal comprises 19  percent of overall General Fund spending by the end of our outlook period —slightly lower than the 20  percent share in the 2025 ‑26 enacted  budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

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

Nov 9, 2021 - Moreover, some individuals and families uncomfortable with signing up for Medi ‑Cal may not be able to afford what would have been the federal portion of the cost of the RC ‑coordinated services. Consequently, this approach could be more punitive in nature than the three alternative approaches discussed below, given that a family would have to pay for or forgo services if they did not want to enroll the consumer in Medi ‑Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4471

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

Jan 13, 2025 - The reason for the reduction is the recent voter approval of Proposition  35 (2024), which requires the state to spend less MCO tax money on offsetting General Fund spending and more money on provider rate increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

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

May 17, 2021 - Reflecting very strong cash collections in recent months, the May Revision adjusts 2020 ‑21 revenues (and transfers) up by $26.8  billion to $182  billion. This represents a 27  percent increase over 2019 ‑20, the largest single year increase in over four decades.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - For example, low ‑income households have less money to purchase and operate air conditioning units during extreme heat events, air filters to moderate wildfire smoke, or back ‑up electricity generators to provide electricity during Public Safety Power Shutoff events.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

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

Oct 24, 2025 - Based on July 2025 unemployment data, about 20 counties in California currently meet the criteria, and several more are close. We estimate that this additional exemption alone could exclude at least a few hundred thousand individuals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

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

Mar 6, 2025 - The 2019 ‑20 budget package eliminated this share of cost for seniors and persons with disabilities up to 138  percent of FPL, consistent with the eligibility rules for children and adults through age 64.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - In 2023 ‑24, we estimate these rebates comprised 3  percent of gross spending, up from as low as 1  percent in some years. This increase was expected following the switch to the Medi ‑Cal Rx system in 2022.
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 - From 2008 ‑10 to 2018 ‑20, rates of suicide in California among youth aged 15 through 24 increased by more than 20  percent. These troubling trends have accelerated since the COVID ‑19 pandemic and have made improving California ’s behavioral health system a priority for the state ’s policymakers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954