The 2021-22 Budget: Analysis of the Governor’s Medi-Cal Telehealth Proposal

May 13, 2021 - Medi‑Cal payment rates for health centers range from as low as $64 per visit to as high as $719 per visit, depending on the health center and their services. Statewide, the average Medi‑Cal health center payment rate is $215 per visit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4430

Estimated Cost of Expanding Full-Scope Medi-Cal Coverage to All Otherwise-Eligible Californians Regardless of Immigration Status

May 5, 2021 - By way of comparison, we estimate that 4  percent of restricted-scope Medi-Cal enrollees (most of whom are undocumented immigrants) are over age 64 or disabled, whereas around 18  percent of current full-scope enrollees are over age 64 or disabled.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4423

The 2021-22 Budget: CalAIM: Equity Considerations

Mar 12, 2021 - In addition, persons of color are disproportionately represented among seniors in the Medi ‑Cal program compared to seniors living in the state as a whole. Many CalAIM reforms could improve care for Medi ‑Cal ’s senior population, which, in turn, could disproportionately benefit the state ’s seniors of color.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4402

The 2021-22 Budget: Behavioral Health: Community Care Demonstration Project

Feb 19, 2021 - Counties would need to weigh this potential benefit against ( 1)  t he added responsibility of treating all felony ISTs and ( 2)  t he premium they would have to pay to send select felony ISTs to DSH.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4382

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Health

Oct 22, 2021 - Research Grants. $4  million for grants focused on women and people of color (both of whom have a higher prevalence of dementias) and the LGBTQ+ community (which has been underrepresented in previous research).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4465

The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - Beginning January 1, 2027, H.R.1 requires states to implement a community engagement requirement for certain able ‑bodied adults between ages 19 and 64 (mostly childless adults). Individuals must generally work, study, or volunteer at least 80  hours per month, or meet an earnings threshold (about $580 per month, equivalent to 80 hours at the federal minimum wage) unless they qualify for certain exemptions (such as having young children or being medically frail).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - Specifically, in order to be eligible, providers must (1)  comply with Electronic Visit Verification, (2)  comply with the federal HCBS Settings Rule, and (3)  complete independent audits or reviews if total payments from RCs are above a certain threshold.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Health

Oct 23, 2023 - Provides Funding for Electronic Health Records Project. The spending plan includes $21  million General Fund in 2023-24 and $22  million General Fund in 2024-25 and ongoing for project planning and procurement and activities needed for the transition of the project into implementation of the Continuum Electronic Health Record System.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4810

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

Mar 6, 2025 - The 2019 ‑20 budget package eliminated this share of cost for seniors and persons with disabilities up to 138  percent of FPL, consistent with the eligibility rules for children and adults through age 64.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

The 2021-22 Budget: CalAIM: New Directions for Services for Seniors and Persons With Disabilities

Mar 15, 2021 - Another driver of growth in the senior population with disabilities is the increasing racial diversity of the senior population, as seniors of color make up a disproportionate share of seniors with disabilities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4404