Counties Brace for $1.3B Cut to Health Care Funding

California counties are bracing for the state's $1.3 billion cut to county health departments over the next four years. The state is redirecting the funding in response to its decision to expand Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, to include individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, which is expected to reduce counties' spending on indigent health care. However, county officials say it is too early to rely on Affordable Care Act savings and to cut county health care safety nets.

• "County Health Departments Brace for Cuts" (Graebner, HealthyCal, 9/19).