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Medi Cal

All articles tagged with #medi cal

politics14 days ago•33 min saved

Newsom's Final Budget: Cutting Now, Saving for the AI Boom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a revised 2026-27 budget that aims to balance the books for 18 months after he leaves, pairing continued reserves withdrawals with new cuts and a larger rainy-day fund to blunt a potentially long-term deficit. Fueled by a surge in tax revenue from California’s AI-driven tech sector, the plan projects a near $350 billion spending blueprint that still expects a deficit in 2028-29 and 2029-30, and it slashes general-fund spending by about $1.8 billion, mainly through Medi-Cal cuts and higher premiums for about 1.3 million undocumented immigrants while reinstating asset tests. Newsom would transfer money into the rainy-day fund and set aside billions for future years, while also funding targeted items like paid pregnancy leave for TK-12 and community college staff and literacy and math supports. The plan clashes with Democratic lawmakers over education funding levels, homelessness money, and corporate tax credits, and would impose new matching requirements on localities receiving homelessness funds. Negotiations continue, with a June 30 deadline for a final deal.

via CalMatters|

#california-budget #california-legislature #gavin-newsom

crime1 month ago•5 min saved

California hospice fraud crackdown: 21 charged in $267 million Medi-Cal scheme

California’s Department of Justice and state agencies arrested five people as part of Operation Skip Trace in a crackdown on a hospice fraud ring that allegedly billed Medi-Cal for about $267 million while providing no real hospice services; 21 suspects face charges including conspiracy, healthcare fraud, money laundering and identity theft, with investigations ongoing into hundreds of hospices. A related federal case in April charged eight people with more than $50 million in fraud.

via CBS News|

#california-doj #crime #fraud-crackdown

healthcare1 month ago•3 min saved

Orange County Man Pleads Guilty in $270 Million Medi-Cal Fraud Scheme Tied to Monte Vista Pharmacy

An Orange County man pleaded guilty to leading a scheme that billed Medi-Cal from May 2022 to April 2023 for expensive, often unnecessary drugs via Monte Vista Pharmacy, totaling nearly $270 million with about $178 million paid; funds were laundered and kickbacks were used, and he faces a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison at sentencing on August 3.

via Department of Justice (.gov)|

#health-care-fraud #healthcare #kickbacks

health-and-wellness3 months ago•9 min saved

Aging Teeth, Broken System: Why Senior Dental Care Breaks the Bank

Through a personal toothache, the columnist shows that Medicare barely covers senior dental care and Medi-Cal reimbursements are limited, leaving many 65+ with high out-of-pocket costs, long delays, or no care at all; some travel to Mexico or Costa Rica for cheaper implants and crowns, while policy debates threaten to slash Medi-Cal funding, worsening access and driving preventable emergencies.

via Los Angeles Times|

#dental-insurance #health-and-wellness #health-policy

california-politics4 months ago•7 min saved

Newsom bets on federal reprieve to bridge California’s looming budget gap

Gov. Gavin Newsom is counting on a federal extension of California’s MCO tax on Medi-Cal to cover about $1.1 billion in revenue for the coming budget year; without a six‑month reprieve, the state could face a larger hole as AI-driven revenue remains uncertain and federal rules tighten on how the tax is used.

via Politico|

#budget #california #california-politics

politics4 months ago•2 min saved

California Faces Budget Challenges as Pandemic Aid Ends

California's budget outlook has worsened from a surplus to an $18 billion deficit due to unforeseen costs like wildfires, Medi-Cal expenses, and federal policy impacts, with projections indicating ongoing deficits and potential structural issues requiring revenue increases or cuts.

via CalMatters|

#california-budget #fiscal-deficit #gavin-newsom

healthcare5 months ago•5 min saved

California and Counties Prepare for Medi-Cal Changes and Funding Challenges

As California prepares for federal Medicaid funding cuts and policy shifts, a new commission led by former health officials is developing a 10-year plan to sustain and improve Medi-Cal, which covers over 14 million low-income residents, amid concerns about access, costs, and program growth.

via CalMatters|

#california #future-planning #healthcare

health9 months ago•8 min saved

Fall COVID Vaccination Challenges and Updates

Experts warn that vaccine access and coverage this year will be complicated due to potential changes in federal vaccine recommendations, especially affecting Medi-Cal beneficiaries over 21, with private insurance plans likely to continue coverage. The situation may lead to unequal access, particularly impacting lower-income groups, as vaccine approval and distribution processes adapt to evolving federal guidelines and vaccine formulations.

via San Diego Union-Tribune|

#accessibility #covid-19 #federal-regulations

politics9 months ago•6 min saved

California GOP Congressman Faces Boos and Jeers Over Trump at Town Hall

During his first in-person town hall in years, Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa faced a hostile crowd in Chico, California, who booed and heckled him over his support for a Trump-era budget bill that cuts federal spending on healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medi-Cal, with attendees accusing him of supporting legislation that would harm vulnerable populations. LaMalfa defended his vote, claiming the bill targets waste rather than people, while the crowd expressed strong opposition and concern over healthcare and immigration issues.

via CalMatters|

#doug-lamalfa #hostilecrowd #medi-cal

politics11 months ago•5 min saved

California Budget Deal Closes $12B Deficit Amid Controversial Cuts

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget that reduces healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants to address a $12 billion deficit, including halting new enrollment in Medi-Cal and eliminating dental care for noncitizens, amid political and economic pressures.

via The New York Times|

#budget-deficit #california #healthcare-cuts

politics1 year ago•4 min saved

Gov. Newsom Proposes Asset Test for Low-Income Medi-Cal Applicants

California Governor Gavin Newsom proposes reinstating an 'asset test' for low-income and disabled Medi-Cal applicants, which could lead to eligibility restrictions and cost savings, but faces criticism from disability advocates who warn it could harm vulnerable populations and increase long-term costs. The proposal aims to address rising healthcare expenses by reintroducing asset limits, including home and vehicle values, starting in 2026.

via Los Angeles Times|

#asset-test #california-budget #gavin-newsom

healthcare2 years ago•0 min saved

Impending Medi-Cal Coverage Loss Threatens Thousands of L.A. County and Southern California Residents

Thousands of Los Angeles County residents may lose their Medi-Cal coverage as pandemic rules expire, requiring individuals to submit paperwork to prove eligibility. L.A. Care, a publicly operated health plan, estimates that 40,000 residents could be removed from the program. Failure to submit the necessary paperwork could result in discontinuation of Medi-Cal coverage. This rollback has already led to 1.5 million people nationwide losing Medicaid.

via KTLA Los Angeles|

#eligibility-requirements #healthcare #healthcare-coverage

health-care2 years ago•5 min saved

California's $19 Billion Investment in Health Care Programs.

California's health care industry has reached a deal on how to spend $19 billion in proceeds of a renewed tax on insurance plans plus the federal funds that go with it. The agreement would impose a tax on health care plans in what those involved described as a once-in-a-generation investment into a system that serves nearly 16 million Californians. It would be the largest-ever investment in Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid system. The deal includes money to bolster struggling hospitals, ease workforce shortages and entice more specialists to see Medi-Cal patients.

via POLITICO|

#budget #california #health-care