The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 19, 2025 - General Fund spending on Medi ‑Cal is $44.9  billion in 2025 ‑26, reflecting an all ‑time high for the program and around 20  percent of overall General Fund spending. Medi ‑Cal ’s share of General Fund spending historically hovered at about 15  percent, but ticked upward recently due to rising costs in the program.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5092

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook [Publication Details]

Nov 19, 2025 - This brief summarizes our annual outlook for General Fund spending on Medi-Cal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5092

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) Quality Assurance Fee Private GEMT providers $55 million Increased Medi ‑Cal payments to private ground emergency transport providers and General Fund savings. a Reflects revenue that is directly available to the state for higher provider rates and General Fund savings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - In addition to $5.1  million General Fund allocated for IT project planning in 2025 ‑26, DDS also received enhanced funding from the federal government through the Advanced Planning Document (APD) process.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 16, 2025 - The spending plan est imates this action saves $370  million General Fund in 2025-26, rising to $600  million General Fund in subsequent years. In addition, this year ’s health trailer bill adjusts the statutory formula for state rebates on HIV and cancer drugs, estimated to save $75  million General Fund in 2025-26 and $150  million General Fund ongoing in subsequent years.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5075

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

Oct 24, 2025 - …And General Fund Offset for Medi ‑Cal. A sizable portion of hospital fee revenue —typically around one ‑quarter each year —helps offset General Fund spending on Medi ‑Cal. Proposition  52 effectively locks the share of revenue in place permanently, ensuring that a majority of the fee revenue directly benefits private hospitals that pay the fee, rather than the General Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - The Governor ’s 2025-26 budget proposes $27  million General Fund in 2025-26, $20.4  million General Fund in 2026-27, and $16.3  million in 2027-28 and ongoing to support the system. Laboratory Data Exchange (LDX) Project.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - Backfills Lost Reduction in Funding for General Fund Offset. Under last year ’s spending plan, less MCO tax funding would be available in 2025-26 than in 2024-25 to offset General Fund spending, necessitating a General Fund backfill.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - Higher General Fund Costs. Proposition  35 likely will result in more General Fund costs in the budget window (through 2025 ‑26). This is because the measure requires the state to use more MCO tax money to increase Medi-Cal services, rather than to offset General Fund spending.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4941

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Pharmacy Spending

Apr 3, 2025 - On the other hand, the state generally pays for the full cost of drugs for undocumented beneficiaries (as is the case for many other services to this population). Drugs to undocumented beneficiaries also generally are not eligible for rebates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5026