The 2025-26 Budget: Health Care Access and Information

Feb 20, 2025 - With  key implementation details of the insulin initiative still uncertain, the Legislature likely will want to work with HCAI to better understand the continued need for these funds. If stronger justification is not forthcoming, the Legislature could redirect these funds for other one ‑time budget priorities or further defer them as needed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4979

Impact of COVID-19 on Health Care Access

May 7, 2021 - In more recent months, data from this survey show sustained declines in foregone or delayed care, although challenges in access to medical care likely remain given that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4426

The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - This would shift some of the cost of the tax away from the federal government and onto the commercial market and California consumers. Proposition 35, however, limits the size of the tax on commercial enrollment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

The 2022-23 Budget: Health Care Access and Affordability

Feb 23, 2022 - (For example, the inflation in nonmedical service sectors discussed above is still higher than overall inflation over the same time period.) Nevertheless, growth in health care costs is attributed at least in part to distinctive market conditions that particularly impact health care prices such as reduced competition among health care payers and providers due to mergers and acquisitions in the health care sector.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4560

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

Mar 6, 2025 - With regard to income, seniors and persons with disabilities still must have countable income below 138  percent of the FPL —$20,783 for an individual in 2025. In general, seniors and persons with disabilities with income over this threshold still can be eligible for Medi ‑Cal but must pay a share of cost.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - In particular, a few decades ago, relatively expensive second ‑generation versions of these drugs (known as “atypical antipsychotics ”) entered the market. Over time, the initial brand drugs have lost their patent exclusivity and generic competitors have entered the market.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026

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

Jan 13, 2025 - Instead, the gains appear largely tied to the booming stock market, a situation which can change rapidly and without warning. The  administration appears to share some of these concerns, noting recent job losses among high ‑wage workers and the risks posed by the inherent volatility of tax receipts tied to stock market gains.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

Mental Health Services Act: LAO Update: The Governor's Revised Behavioral Health Modernization Proposal

Aug 21, 2023 - Finally, while the revised proposal would provide the MHSOAC with more authority relative to the initial proposal, we find that it still would reduce the commission’s current authority and role as an independent oversight agency for MHSA implementation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4792

COVID-19: American Rescue Plan’s Major Health-Related Funding Provisions [Publication Details]

May 6, 2021 - This post highlights the health-related provisions of the ARP Act that provide significant funding directly to state/local health care and public health agencies, rural hospitals, home- and community-based services programs, subsidized individual market health coverage programs, and public behavioral health services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4425

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

Jul 13, 2023 - While the commission still would serve in an advisory role to the administration and the Legislature, removing most of its other authorities would significantly limit its ability to do so independently or more generally serve as an independent oversight entity.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4781