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

May 13, 2021 - The concept of covering telehealth services at the same payment rate as health care services provided in ‑person is known as “payment parity. ” A number of states have in place telehealth payment parity policies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - In 2016, the Legislature appropriated ongoing funding for the Disparity Funds Program, which awards grants to RCs and community ‑based organizations for strategies to reduce disparities in service authorizations, utilization, and spending.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Administration Identifies Several Strategies to Mitigate Disenrollment Impacts. The administration has indicated it will prioritize using administrative data to automatically identify individuals who are excluded or exempt from the community engagement requirement.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

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

Jul 13, 2023 - These insights can be of value to the Legislature as it deliberates its preferred policy approach on mental health issues. Issues for Legislative Consideration Maintain MHSOAC ’s Authority Absent Compelling Justification for Governor ’s Proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4781

The 2021-22 Budget: Behavioral Health: Community Care Demonstration Project

Feb 19, 2021 - In addition, under this proposal, DSH would be required to report to the Legislature by February  1,   2025 o n the effectiveness of county strategies to treat felony ISTs and reduce the amount of individuals found to be IST.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4382

The 2022-23 Budget: Public Health Foundational Support

Feb 16, 2022 - While the spending plan does not currently reflect a strategic plan for IT ‑related expenditures, CDPH indicated it will be developing an IT strategy after hiring a Chief IT Strategist. Nevertheless, the Legislature could request that CDPH produce a more specific time line for this strategy and its associated deliverables and seek a description of the steps the administration will undertake to develop this  strategy.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4544

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Health

Apr 5, 2022 - Currently, only limited information is available on which adaptation strategies are likely to reduce future health risks at the lowest possible costs, and how equitably the benefits and costs of those strategies are distributed a cross different regions and populations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4580

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

Feb 5, 2025 - BHCIP is a key component of this overall strategy as it aims to address the significant shortfall of behavioral health  infrastructure. Selected Recent Initiatives Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Services The Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program is just one piece of the state ’s overall strategy to increase access to behavioral health services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2023-24 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Feb 15, 2023 - State Lacks Insight Into Drivers of These Disparities in Spending. One potential reason the ongoing equity grants have not yet addressed spending disparities is that they are not guided by a clear understanding of why such disparities exist.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4683

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - This is because, other than the asset limit reinstatement, the solutions generally are utilization management strategies, benefit reductions, and provider rate reductions —all ways to curtail spending without directly affecting caseload.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092