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

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - Prior to H.R. 1, federal rules limited managed care payments to hospitals at the average rate paid in the commercial market. H.R. 1 reduces this limit down to the rates paid in the federal Medicare program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

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 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - The initiative also includes funds to explore other market interventions to reduce the cost of diapers. When the Governor first announced this proposal, HCAI estimated the funds would cover around 25  percent of newborn babies in 2025-26 and around 50  percent of newborn babies in 2026-27.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

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

Oct 24, 2025 - Magnitude of Costs Is Still Emerging. Though county costs from H.R.  1 are likely, the total effect across the state is uncertain. Counties and other stakeholders were still reviewing H.R.  1 ’s provisions and potential effects when we spoke to them earlier this year.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - The department stated that, although more time is still needed for planning and that a fully operational LOIS IT system is still a few years out, it intends to begin early preparations with RCs to make the eventual transition process smoother.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

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 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - The two provider taxes are not permanent in federal law, however—periodic federal approval is still required to draw down federal funds. The two measures also include rules around how to structure the taxes and spend their associated revenues.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146