The massive budget cuts proposed in the Governor’s May Revise are tragic, and represent the loss of services and assistance to millions of Californians when they need it most. The loss of revenue due to the Coronavirus is real and many budget cuts are undoubtedly necessary, but many of the cuts to services for frail seniors and the disabled leave them with few options other than nursing homes, which are responsible for over 40% of the COVID-19 deaths in California.
Particularly harsh is the proposal to restore the draconian Medi-Cal Recovery policies in place prior to the 2016 Budget Act. This represents a betrayal to all of those Medi-Cal beneficiaries who signed up for Medi-Cal on or after January 1, 2017 under the promise that they would not be subject to recovery unless they entered a nursing home.
The $16.9 million in “savings” is not a budget cut, and is, in fact, not savings, but represents an estimate of what the state of California can extract from the estates of low-income Medi-Cal beneficiaries after they die. Thousands of low-income Californians have already lost their jobs, can’t pay rent, can’t pay their mortgages and many will lose their homes, particularly in low-income Black, Latinx, and API communities. At a time when the housing crisis is at its peak, returning to policies that decimated housing in low-income minority communities is reprehensible and will only add to the loss of housing and an increase in poverty and homelessness.
Just say “no” to this irresponsible proposal.
Click to read Budget Analysis, courtesy of Justice in Aging
Click to read the Full Budget Summary
Public Comment:
The Senate Budget Committee on Health and Human Services is holding a hearing Saturday, May 23, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. PT. You can send your written testimonial or public comment prior to the hearing to: sbud.committee@senate.ca.gov Please note that your email will be considered a public comment and may be read into the record or reprinted.
Key Members to Contact:
If you would like to adapt a sample letter, you can download it HERE.
Senator Holly Mitchell, (D-LA), Budget Chair
Capitol Office: phone (916) 651-4030 fax (916) 651-4930
If the Senator represents your District, you can contact her through this form:
https://sd30.senate.ca.gov/e-mail-holly
Senator Toni Atkins, President Pro Temp (D-San Diego)
Capitol Office: phone (916) 651-4039 fax (916) 651-4939
If the Senator represents your District, you can contact her through this form:
https://sd39.senate.ca.gov/contact
Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-31 Fresno)
Capitol Office: phone (916) 319-2031 fax (916) 319-2131
If the Assemblymember represents your District, you can contact him through this form:
https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD31
Senator Richard Pan, Chair, Budget Committee on Health & Human Services
Capitol Office: phone (916) 651-4006 fax (916) 651-4906
If the Senator represents your District, you can contact him through this form:
https://sd06.senate.ca.gov/contact/email
Speaker: Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, Speaker of the Assembly
Capitol Office: phone (916) 319-2063 fax (916) 319-2163
If the Assemblymember represents your District, you can contact him through this form:
https://speaker.asmdc.org/contact-anthony