Advocates Take Worries About Cuts to Medi-Cal, Social Services to Capitol
Social services advocates will rally at the state Capitol today to voice concerns about potential cuts to Medi-Cal and other social services if state leaders decide to enact a provision of last month's state budget agreement that hinges on federal stimulus funds, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program (Chance, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 3/17).
The state budget agreement Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) enacted last month stipulates that the state could avoid further tax increases and spending cuts if it received at least $10 billion from the stimulus package for budget relief.
If stimulus funds do not hit that threshold, Medi-Cal would terminate some benefits beginning July 1. For example, Medi-Cal would stop covering adult dental services and podiatry.
The state personal income tax also would increase by a quarter percentage point (California Healthline, 3/11).
The rally will take place as state Treasurer Bill Lockyer (D) and Finance Director Mike Genest convene a public hearing to help them determine how much stimulus funding California will receive ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 3/17). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.