Gov. Brown Expected To Release Proposed State Budget Plan
On Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is expected to release a budget proposal for fiscal year 2013-2014, which likely will include health care-related items, the Los Angeles Times reports (York, Los Angeles Times, 1/10).
General Budget Information
According to legislative analysts, Brown will seek to close a $1.9 billion budget deficit, significantly less than the $25 billion budget shortfall that California faced when Brown became governor two years ago.
If the state can hold down spending levels, officials are expecting budget surpluses within two fiscal years (Williams, AP/U-T San Diego, 1/10).
Expanding Health Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid coverage to individuals with incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty level. The law's Medicaid expansion provision also would expand coverage to low-income adults who have no children (California Healthline, 1/8).
Brown has expressed concern about the costs of expanding Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
The Times reports that the budget proposal likely will outline his plans for expanding Medi-Cal.
Other Possible Health-Related Budget Items
Brown has said that he might reduce the roughly $2 billion the state provides to counties for the care of uninsured residents, despite objections from patient care advocates and county officials (Los Angeles Times, 1/10).
Meanwhile, Brown is under pressure from heath care advocates to use his budget to restore funding to health and human service programs that have sustained cuts, including CalWORKS, the state's welfare-to-work program (Harmon, Contra Costa Times, 1/10).
Broadcast Coverage
On Wednesday, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reported on Brown's impending budget proposal (Adler, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 1/9). 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.