California’s public health programs could lose billions of dollars due to recent federal budget cuts, state health officials told lawmakers during a joint committee hearing on March 10.
The hearing, held at the State Capitol, focused on the impacts of reductions to programs such as Medi-Cal, the Affordable Care Act and Covered California. Officials said regulatory changes and funding rollbacks could reduce the quality and availability of health coverage for many Californians.
“The rollback of federal policies risks reversing hard-won progress,” said Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland).
“For many Californians, accessibility and affordability were already in question,” Bonta continued. “More than half of Californians are worried about out-of-pocket expenses, long-term care and monthly premiums, concerns that now surpass anxiety about housing, groceries, transportation and utilities.”