Legislature Firms Up Budget Deal; Almost All Health Issues Go Wanting

The California Legislature yesterday reached a budget deal and health care programs didn't fare well. The budget proposal:

• Does not include restoration of a 10% Medi-Cal provider rate reduction;
• Does not make autism therapy a Medi-Cal benefit;
• Does not restore public health programs such as the Early Mental Health Initiative and the Children's Dental Disease Prevention Program; and
• Rejects money from the California Endowment to help enroll and renew Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

Read more here.