The 2025-26 Budget: MCO Tax and Proposition 35

Feb 26, 2025 - For example, in recent years, the General Fund has backfilled parts of Proposition  56 (2016) —another ballot measure that funds Medi-Cal provider rate increases (see nearby box for more detail). With so many fiscal uncertainties at play, it will be important for DHCS to structure MCO tax-funded augmentations in ways that preserve fiscal flexibility.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4992

The 2021-22 Budget: CalAIM: Equity Considerations

Mar 12, 2021 - Medi ‑Cal exclusively serves low ‑income individuals. As Figure  2, shows, Medi ‑Cal beneficiaries generally suffer worse health outcomes than non ‑Medi ‑Cal beneficiaries. Therefore, if CalAIM is successful in improving the health of even a subset of Medi ‑Cal beneficiaries, the health disparities between low ‑ and high ‑income state residents could narrow.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4402

The 2021-22 Budget: Behavioral Health: Continuum Infrastructure Funding Proposal

Feb 17, 2021 - When an individual is experiencing a severe mental health crisis, a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) can be a valuable setting in which to provide treatment. CSUs generally are small inpatient facilities for people experiencing a severe mental health crisis whose needs cannot be met safely in residential settings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4379

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Health

Apr 5, 2022 - Given the role the Legislature plays in setting policies for managed health care plans, it can help ensure the impacts of climate change are adequately incorporated in those policies. For  example, the Legislature currently provides input on what data the plans must make available to state regulators.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4580

The 2021-22 Budget: CalAIM: The Overarching Issues

Feb 9, 2021 - CalAIM also presents an opportunity for the state to draw down additional federal funding through Medi ‑Cal for ( 1)  s ervices provided in settings previously ineligible for federal reimbursement through the SMI/SED demonstration opportunity, and ( 2)  s ervices provided to beneficiaries without a covered diagnosis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4357

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

May 5, 2021 - While the true number is uncertain, estimates show there likely are somewhat more than one million undocumented immigrants over age 25 living in the state who are income-eligible for Medi-Cal. Of these, nearly 900,000 already are enrolled in restricted-scope Medi-Cal coverage.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4423

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - Once local public health laboratories receive test results from commercial laboratories they may perform higher-complexity tests to further characterize the disea se and help inform other public health agencies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

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

Mar 15, 2021 - As a result, plans might opt to provide care in less ‑costly settings where feasible. There is general agreement that some nursing home residents could be safely cared for in more community ‑based settings and would prefer to do so if alternative services were available.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4404

The 2024-25 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Feb 13, 2024 - A master plan can serve to focus and coordinate state efforts in a broad policy area that cuts across multiple state entities, initiated by a process of setting priority goals and developing an implementatio n plan to achieve the goals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4837

The 2025-26 Budget: Medi-Cal Fiscal Outlook

Nov 20, 2024 - As Figure  1 shows, this growth reflects both higher estimated spending in the short term and a substantial ramp up over the longer term. Two Key Drivers Increase Medi-Cal Spending in Outlook. In Figure  2 we break down the drivers of Medi-Cal spending over the outlook period, but the majority of the increase in Medi-Cal spending comes from two key drivers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4941