Chico Times

After Governor Gavin Newsom's request for a $6.2 billion emergency bailout of the Medi-Cal program, Assembly Republicans are advocating for a comprehensive audit to investigate the reasons behind the escalating costs. The Republican lawmakers submitted a letter to the chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), seeking clarification on several issues related to Medi-Cal's financial management.

The letter poses critical questions regarding why the program's expenses are increasing at such a rapid rate and explores the administration's apparent failure to accurately project the program’s financial needs. It also seeks to identify the measures taken to stabilize Medi-Cal and investigates the impact of extending benefits to illegal immigrants on the program's financial challenges.

Assemblyman Carl DeMaio from San Diego expressed concerns, stating, “Medi-Cal is billions of dollars over budget with no clear explanation or accountability from the Governor’s office. Taxpayers deserve transparency — and a full audit to determine how this happened and how we can fix this vital program Californians rely on for health care.”

In recent years, Medi-Cal's spending from the General Fund has nearly doubled to $42.1 billion, while the total program spending has increased by 84% to $188.1 billion. A significant factor attributed to the rising costs is the expansion of benefits to illegal immigrants, which currently costs $9.5 billion, including $2.8 billion that was not previously anticipated.

Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher from East Nicolaus endorsed the call for an audit, stating, “Democrats’ bad accounting has brought Medi-Cal to the breaking point, making it harder for patients to get in to see a doctor. We owe it to Californians — and to the vulnerable people who depend on this program — to make sure Medi-Cal is meeting their needs.”

The request for an audit underscores the need for transparency and accountability to ensure the program continues to meet the healthcare needs of Californians effectively. The letter requesting the audit is publicly accessible.