Impact of COVID-19 on Health Care Access

May 7, 2021 - Children ’s vaccinations and mental health services are down by over 10  percent, while outpatient visits (which include well-child visits, where vaccinations and developmental screenings often take place) and dental visits are down by 30  percent to 40  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4426

How Will the Changing Landscape Affect California’s Health Care System?

May 4, 2026 - Medi ‑Cal pays safety net clinics for each visit from a Medi ‑Cal beneficiary. Each clinic ’s rate is set based on its reported costs. As a budget solution, the state will reduce these rates for visits from adult Medi ‑Cal enrollees with UIS beginning in July 2026.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5180

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

May 13, 2021 - Under PPS, health centers receive an all‑inclusive payment for each patient visit, generally regardless of what individual services were provided during that visit. Medi‑Cal payment rates for health centers range from as low as $64 per visit to as high as $719 per visit, depending on the health center and their services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Specifically, in order to be eligible, providers must (1)  comply with Electronic Visit Verification, (2)  comply with the federal HCBS Settings Rule, and (3)  complete independent audits or reviews if total payments from RCs are above a certain threshold.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2022-23 Budget: Health Care Access and Affordability

Feb 23, 2022 - To some extent, health care —like other parts of the service sector —is structurally predisposed to greater growth in costs. (For example, the inflation in nonmedical service sectors discussed above is still higher than overall inflation over the same time period.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4560

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - Millions of California residents visit the coast annually to fish, swim, surf, and enjoy nature, particularly along the one‑third of the coastline owned by the State Parks system. A recent scientific  study  by United States Geological Survey researchers predicted that under scenarios of three feet to six feet of sea‑level rise, up to two‑thirds of Southern California beaches may become completely eroded by 2100.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

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

Oct 24, 2025 - Previously, the allowable limit was the average rates health plans pay in the commercial sector, which tend to be higher than Medicare rates. The lower limit became effective in July 2025. However, the measure allows states in certain cases to gradually ramp down their existing payments to the new limit beginning January 2028.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 24, 2022 - The new policy will maintain the rates currently paid for telehealth services, include various changes to protect patient consent and choices, and reduce the use of audio-only visits in favor of in-person or video-only visits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4642

The 2024-25 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Dec 7, 2023 - Health care services covered by Medi-Cal include visits to the doctor ’s office, stays at the hospital, prescription drugs, behavioral health services, long-term care, and dental services, among many other areas.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4820

Estimated Cost of Expanding Full-Scope Medi-Cal Coverage to All Otherwise-Eligible Californians Regardless of Immigration Status

May 5, 2021 - Medi-Cal —as directly administered by DHCS —covers most but not all health care services used by Medi-Cal enrollees, including, but not limited to, hospitalizations, doctor visits, prescription drugs, and nursing home care.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4423