The 2023-24 Budget: Whole Child Model Expansion

May 5, 2023 - The state sets these rates based on plans ’ past expenditures, as well as adjustments for inflation and other factors determined by actuaries. Currently, the state contracts with 24 managed care plans, with several plans serving beneficiaries in more than one county.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4767

The 2020-21 Budget: Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget

Feb 14, 2020 - In this report, we provide high‑level background on the Medi‑Cal program and an overview of the major drivers of year‑over‑year spending changes in the Governor’s budget. We also discuss the administration’s recent submittal (late January 2020) of a modified managed care organization (MCO) tax proposal.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4161

The 2020-21 Budget: Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget [Publication Details]

Feb 14, 2020 - We also discuss the administration’s recent submittal (late January 2020) of a modified managed care organization (MCO) tax proposal. We then provide analysis and recommendations on a series of key issues: (1) Recently proposed draft federal regulations referred to as the “Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation;” (2) proposals related to the Medi‑Cal pharmacy services benefit;
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4161

The 2017-18 Budget: Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget [Publication Details]

Mar 9, 2017 - Medi‑Cal is by far the largest state‑administered health services program in terms of annual caseload and expenditures. In this report, we provide an analysis of the administration’s caseload projections, including a discussion of the projected increases in ACA optional expansion caseload.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/3612

The MCO Tax: A Flat Versus Tiered Structure

Jul 20, 2015 - Some MCOs with higher tax rates could cede some of their market share to other MCOs with lower tax rates. A flat tax woul d not have this effect. Regardless of which tax structure is in place, there are signs that the MCO industry is already moving toward greater consolidation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3292

The 2019-20 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 14, 2019 - Based on the recent federal approval of a similar tax in Michigan, federal approval of a reauthorized California MCO tax appears likely. Despite this development, the administration did not propose an extension of the MCO tax in 2019 ‑20, forgoing over $ 1  b illion in General Fund benefit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3916

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - CAC = California Arts Council; CalVet = California Department of Veterans Affairs; CDE = California Department of Education; CDFA = California Department of Food and Agriculture; CDI = California Department of Insurance; CDT = California Department of Technology; SOC = Security Operations Center; IT = information technology; CMD = California Military Department; CPUC = California Public Utilities
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432/6

The 2021-22 Budget: Medi-Cal Enterprise System Modernization Effort

Feb 17, 2021 - To operate the program, DHCS manages many IT systems enabling payment of over $ 100  b illion in expenditures annually. (Other entities also manage IT systems that support the Medi ‑Cal program.) This post refers to some of the Medi ‑Cal IT systems DHCS manages that are relevant to this modernization effort, including the California Medicaid Management Information System (CA
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4375

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Health

Oct 22, 2021 - Additionally, budget-related language approved alongside the spending plan ensures that the ongoing rates paid to these long-term care facilities include the supplemental payments that have been provided since 2017 with funding from the Proposition  56 (2016) tobacco tax increase.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4465

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Health Budget and Policy [Publication Details]

Oct 15, 2020 - These actions include the offsetting of what would otherwise be General Fund costs with (1) revenues from the federally approved reauthorized tax on managed care organizations and (2) federal Medicaid funds that are being provided to the state at an enhanced level during the term of the public health emergency.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4281