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

Mar 6, 2025 - Figure  10 shows the average number of Medi ‑Cal enrollees over 65 who are enrolled in Medi ‑Cal for the first time in their lives in four selected time periods —before the continuous coverage period, during continuous coverage but before the asset test phase out, the asset test phase ‑out period, and finally after elimination of the asset test.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

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

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - While we project overall caseload to continue to decline, the senior caseload has been increasing for reasons w e discuss below. Recent Surge in Senior Caseload Driving Increase in Costs. From January 2024 through July 2024, we have observed a sharp increase in Medi-Cal enrollment among the senior population.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4941

The 2021-22 Budget: CalAIM: The Overarching Issues

Feb 9, 2021 - To afford itself more time to scrutinize the many reforms under CalAIM and grant the state ’s currently stressed health care infrastructure more time to implement CalAIM ’s major changes, the Legislature could explore ( 1)  w hich decisions can be deferred and ( 2)  w hich implementation dates can be delayed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4357

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

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - These laboratory branches include specializations such as food and drug testing, environmental health testing, genetic testing, and infectious disease testing and surveillance. The state public health laboratory acts as the reference laboratory for the state, and as such, provides more complex testing services needed to further characterize pathogens identified at the local level.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - These rules required states (including California) to change ho w they pass funds through health plans to providers, tying funds more closely to service delivery and improved health outcomes. In 2024 , more federal rules were enacted on directed payments, including new limits for certain kinds of services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - Reinstates an Asset Test. The spending plan reinstates the verification of assets, commonly referred to as an asset test, to determine Medi-Cal eligibility for seniors and persons with disabilities. Under the spending plan, seniors and persons with disabilities will need to verify that their countable assets do not exceed $130,000 per individual and $195,000 per couple.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

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 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Other solutions included partially restoring the asset test for seniors and persons with disabilities, ending coverage of anti ‑obesity drugs, and ending supplemental payments for dental services in Medi ‑Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146