Key Health Proposals Slashed from California Budget, Advocates Respond with Anger
Last-Minute California Budget Cuts Leave Health Advocates Furious
The $200 billion budget deal reached by Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders includes $500 million to fight homelessness and $90 million to increase grants to people on welfare. However, the deal dropped key proposals by Democratic legislators to expand Medi-Cal eligibility to undocumented immigrants under age 26 and expand financial subsidies for people who purchase health insurance on the Covered California exchange.
Advocates said they are furious that Brown and legislative leaders didn’t use more of the state’s budget surplus-estimated to be the largest in decades-to tackle health care disparities and further support the Affordable Care Act in the face of federal attempts to undermine its stability.
