We at the Local Health Plans of California, like millions of other Californians, have been dismayed by the events of the past month targeting California’s immigrant communities. Local plans are dedicated to providing health care to support our most vulnerable residents, and we believe that immigrants are a vital part of California’s strength.
Medi-Cal is at a critical juncture. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its budget reconciliation package that includes Medicaid cuts that would devastate our program and destabilize California’s entire health care sector. Simultaneously, the state Legislature is weighing the Administration’s proposal to significantly reduce the Medi-Cal budget through cuts to coverage, benefits, and providers.
Medicaid is a vital and critical component of our broader health care system, in California and across the country. As Congress contemplates cuts to Medicaid as a part of budget reconciliation, it is important to put these potential cuts into context of the nation’s largest Medicaid program, Medi-Cal.
As Medicaid issues drive policy and budget discussions at the federal and state levels, LHPC and our members are heavily engaged in advocating for the impact, value and role the program plays in not only supporting the 15 million enrolled Californians, but in stabilizing our health care system and local economies. Ensuring low-income Californians have access to high quality, affordable health care has and will continue to be, our driving mission.
Legislators, staff and state agency partners, mark your calendars for LHPC’s annual legislative briefing this Wednesday, Feb. 26. Medi-Cal is large, complex and reliant on managed care plans to organize and deliver care for nearly 15 million Californians. Our briefing will offer insights on local plans’ priorities, including protecting the progress our state has made to provide comprehensive coverage to low-income populations.
Happy New Year! The LHPC team is jumping into 2025, prepared to adapt to an evolving health care environment at the local, state and national level. Our priority is to advocate for the safety net and uphold the tremendous progress Medi-Cal has made in meeting the health and social needs of one-third of the state population.
While it has only been ten days since the 2024 general election, it is clear that the outcomes of the election will be very consequential for health care nationally and here in California.
Over the last decade, California has been a national leader in health care and has made incredible gains toward equity through ACA Medicaid expansion and the significant state expansions and reforms of Medi-Cal.
We are just 20 days away from one of the most consequential elections in recent history. From the top of the ticket, to key Congressional races, considerable state legislative turnover and the ballot initiatives, there is a lot at stake for the safety net and Medicaid.
LHPC was an early supporter ofProposition 35, which will make the MCO tax funding permanent and dedicate a percentage of those dollars to Medi-Cal.
LHPC would like to extend its deepest appreciation to Secretary Mark Ghaly for his focused leadership at the California Health & Human Services Agency during the five most historic and intense years that any CHHS secretary has experienced. Secretary Ghaly’s vision for Medi-Cal has ushered in a new era for the program, which has seen tremendous change and progress during his tenure. I look forward to incoming Secretary Kim Johnson’s leadership.
Legislators are back for the last month of the 2023-2024 legislative session with a hefty list of bills to vote on and fast-approaching committee deadlines. The Legislature has some big decisions to make this month, several of which may impact Medi-Cal and managed care plans. LHPC is continuing to advocate for legislation that will preserve access to care for Medi-Cal enrollees by preventing the loss of maternal health care services,
Like many in the Capitol community, the LHPC team is looking forward to the summer recess before the final push until the end of the year. Before we all take a much-needed break, I want to share the latest from local plans.
This year’s budget required our state leaders to make many difficult spending decisions to address California’s deficit. The Legislature and Governor’s June 22 budget deal included health trailer bill language (SB 159) which swept many, but not all,
The month of May is always bustling with activity in Sacramento, and this year is no different. From the May budget revision to a flurry of budget hearings and legislative deadlines, the LHPC team has been covering considerable ground to advocate for the Medi-Cal members served by local plans.
LHPC’s top priority is to fight for reinstatement of the January budget proposal that dedicated significant MCO Tax revenue toward increased
As the month of April comes to a close, between legislative bill deadlines and the upcoming May Revise there has been a flurry of activity during this spring sprint. The Swing Space is full of lobbyists and advocates weighing in on bills and budget proposals, and LHPC’s days have been packed with hearings about key Medi-Cal policy issues. The LHPC team has recently testified on panels at budget and informational hearings on issues ranging from the Medi-Cal community health worker benefit, CalAIM, hospital financing, and the MCO tax.
This Women’s Herstory Month I want to express appreciation for living and working in a state with political leaders who fiercely protect and enhance critical care, services and supports for women. Local plans champion women’s health care through Medi-Cal, ensuring they get needed care, and are committed to advancing equity in maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women. As the CEO for LHPC, I am honored to work alongside so many dedicated local plan leaders, including the eight women competently serving as local plan CEOs.
As we celebrate Black History Month, our commitment to health equity remains at the forefront of our mission to provide quality and accessible health care. Black Americans’ health outcomes are impacted by structural barriers and historically exclusionary health care practices. The generational impact of these disparities is felt within the communities we serve, and local plans are working to address these inequities head-on.
Happy 2024! With the new year, come many firsts in the world of Medi-Cal.
We are excited to support local plans in their sizeable expansion to 15 new counties, which means Medi-Cal enrollees in 51 of California’s 58 counties will be able to receive coverage through our member plans. With 70 percent of Medi-Cal enrollees in California already receiving coverage
As we approach the end of 2023, we want to take a moment to recognize local plans’ hard work this year to ensure their members have access to high quality care, advocating for policies that advance Medi-Cal’s transformation, and investing in their local communities. Local plans proudly represent the largest community-based, non-profit, publicly accountable managed care delivery system in the nation.
With our legislative work for the year concluding, I want to recognize the local plans’ efforts to support policy that benefits not just our Medi-Cal enrollees, but also the communities they serve. I also want to share deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of legislative staff, lawmakers, and the Administration, who show up day in and day out to advance policy that will improve the lives of Californians.
As the legislature returns for the last month of session, September brings the heat – both outside and inside the Capitol. One of the most high-profile health care issues before the legislature is a proposed overhaul of the Mental Health Services Act. Both Senate Bill 326 and Assembly Bill 531 have passed their respective Appropriations Committees.
With July came a big change in our State Legislature. We would like to congratulate the new Speaker, Assemblymember Robert Rivas, as he takes the helm and tackles some of the state’s most pressing challenges.
