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: 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

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

Feb 5, 2025 - This platform provides behavioral health services to children and youth aged 25 and younger —regardless of payer source —through (1)  interactive exercises and games, (2)  automated screening and assessment tools, and (3)  direct services delivered by peers and coaches.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

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

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Health

Apr 5, 2022 - The Legislature could consider adding new data submission requirements on measures related to the health impacts of climate change to facilitate statewide tracking of impact trends and guide state ‑level responses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4580

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

The 2021-22 Budget: LAO Preliminary Comments on the Governor’s Major May Revision Behavioral Health Proposals

May 24, 2021 - Given the substantial size of this initiative, a coordinated and well-developed statewide strategy for evaluating its effectiveness will be necessary to (1)  ensure that the state is achieving desired specified outcomes as a result of the initiative ’s various investments and (2)  determine what ongoing resources for the initiative are warranted.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4439

The 2024-25 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Feb 14, 2024 - As Figure 14 shows, we think several key principles could guide legislative decision making. We  describe each principle further below. Figure 14 Key Principles Could Guide Legislative Decisions LAO Recommended Principles for MCO Tax ‑Funded Provider Payment Increases Target increases to highest need areas of Medi ‑Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4838

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

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

Feb 17, 2021 - The proposal would be strengthened by including a clear strategy for avoiding duplicative services being provided by managed care plans, county behavioral health, and schools. Fragmented Model of Behavioral Health Service Delivery Creates Substantial Need for State Strategy for Coordination and Clarification of Roles.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4377