Medical Care Services

Overview

Medical Care Services

County human service agencies administer the Medi-Cal program on behalf of the state, offering free or low-cost health coverage for California residents, including low-income children, pregnant women, families and low-income adults who meet eligibility requirements. The Medi-Cal program is California’s version of the federal Medicaid program. Nearly one in three Californians receive Medi-Cal health care coverage.

 

Budget Priority

FY 2026-27 Governor’s Budget Misses Opportunity to Protect Low-income Californians’ Access to Food and Health Care Against Regressive Federal Policy

On behalf of the County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, we urge the Legislature to protect maximum levels of CalFresh benefits and Medi-Cal coverage in the face of federal H.R. 1 implementation by 1) adequately funding the county eligibility workforce and 2) rejecting State-imposed county cost shifts proposed by the Administration that threaten to further strain county capacity for mitigating H.R. 1-related program losses. 

Please see our attached budget letter.

 

Press release Carlos Marquez III

Joint Statement: California SNAP Stakeholders Urge Rejection of Chairman’s Farm Bill Proposal; Bill Would Further Erode Nutrition Supports and Increase Hunger

Sacramento, CA – California’s SNAP stakeholders – representing grocers, county administrators, labor unions, legal aid leaders, and other anti-hunger advocates – urge the California Congressional Delegation and House Agriculture Committee Members to reject the proposed Farm Bill put forth by Committee Chairman Thompson (R-PA).  

Post

BUDGET FACT SHEET: PRESERVE HEALTH CARE & PROTECT MEDI-CAL FROM H.R. 1 CUTS
Investing in County Eligibility Workers is Critical to Keep Californians Connected to Health Care Benefits

County eligibility workers are responsible for processing, verifying, and redetermining eligibility for applicants and Medi-Cal enrollees in California.
The county eligibility workforce helped enroll millions of low-income
adults who became newly eligible for Medi-Cal under the Affordable
Care Act (ACA) beginning in 2014, contributing to near universal
health care coverage in 2022 and 2023 when the statewide uninsured
rate dropped to a historic low of 6.2%.

Featured Content

Counties and Clinics Partner to Provide Full-Scope Medi-Cal Benefits to Children Under 19 Regardless of Immigration Status

SB 75, approved in 2015, provides full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to children under 19 regardless of their immigration status. In preparation for implementing SB 75, CWDA has been working closely with the California Endowment and the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) to facilitate communication and outreach efforts between local clinics and county human services departments. 

Training

Senate Bill 75: Implementing Full Scope Medi-Cal Benefits for All Children

CWDA partnered with the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) for a county SB 75 training on Wednesday, May 18. This webinar discussed the changes to Welfare and Institutions Code section 14007.8 for the Medi-Cal program pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 75 (Chapter 18, Statutes of 2015) that provides to individuals under age 19 who do not have satisfactory immigration status or are unable to verify satisfactory immigration status or citizenship with full scope Medi-Cal.