The 2025-26 Budget: CalAIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Implementation Update

Mar 6, 2025 - These complex and varying circumstantial eligibility requirements make it difficult to determine the total number of members potentially eligible f or Community Supports services statewide. Similar to ECM, members must agree to receive the benefit and participate in the program to access the  services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5003

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

Mar 6, 2025 - Based on our review of the legislative history, the elimination of the asset test was meant to remove a barrier to enrollment, encourage continuity of coverage, and make eligibility determinations between MAGI and non ‑MAGI populations more equitable, among other goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

Building California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure: Progress Update and Opportunities for the Proposition 1 Bond

Feb 5, 2025 - In addition to making broad changes to the Mental Health Services Act, Proposition  1 authorized a $6.4  billion general obligation bond, $4.4  billion of which is dedicated to building behavioral health infrastructure.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - Recent experience has shown that, once structured and enacted, rate increases can still take time to make their way to providers. This is particularly true for provider payments directed through the managed care system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

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

Jan 13, 2025 - Moreover, specific budgetary conditions occurring this year —including legislative action taken last year to withdraw more in reserves this year —make interpretation of the budget position more complex.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - The measure makes the MCO tax permanent under state law and changes how the funds are to be used. The Legislature faces two key issues as a result of these changes, described below. Higher General Fund Costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4941

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Health

Sep 17, 2024 - This year ’s health trailer bill legislation makes a number of key changes to this law in light of the state ’s budget problem. Most notably, it delays the start date, depending whether one of two trigger conditions are met.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4930

Mental Health Services Act: Proposed Bond to Fund Behavioral Health Facilities and Veterans Housing

Aug 17, 2023 - By making more activities compete for a smaller, flexible category of funding, the bill may also make it harder for counties to prioritize capital facility needs. This post focuses on that bill ’s counterpart, AB  531, which proposes a general obligation bond for behavioral health facilities and housing for veterans.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4790

The 2024-25 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Feb 14, 2024 - Focus on Changes That Make Medi ‑Cal Payment Methodologies More Rational. To  the extent the Legislature would like to use these increases to also change the way Medi ‑Cal pays providers, we recommend it focus on approaches that make the existing methodology more rational.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4838

Mental Health Services Act: Revenue Volatility and the Governor’s Proposal to Reduce Allowable County Reserves

Jul 13, 2023 - What Makes a Well-Performing MHSA Reserve Policy? Reserve Caps Should Reflect Revenue Volatility... To aid in the Legislature ’s assessment of the Governor ’s proposal, we offer perspectives on what makes for a reasonable reserve policy for the MHSA.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4780