I’m so thrilled to announce I’ll be joining @KFFHealthNews as a CA correspondent covering health policy and politics next month. What a dream to work with @youngsamantha @ByJudyLin @ahartreports and a whole team of mission-driven professionals doing thoughtful, impactful work.

One of the key provisions of the House budget bill that passed this week: a stiff financial penalty for California and 14 other states (+DC) that use their own funds to cover healthcare for unauthorized immigrants. My latest w/ @philgalewitz

RT @CalHealthline: “The challenge that we face this year and the challenge we will face for many years is on growth of our Medicaid system,….

RT @CalHealthline: “We all know that the cuts are definitely coming,” Carlos Alarcon @CALimmigrant, on fears that California will roll back….

The latest CA state budget numbers drop tomorrow. @vanesanchez_g and I will be there. Follow @KFFHealthNews for smart takes on the latest developments on Medicaid and its state sister programs from my brilliant colleagues in DC and all over the country.

This week, the House GOP has advanced the debate over cutting billions from the Medicaid budget. Legislators have worried cuts are coming — even w/o federal action — for weeks, including @drakilahweber, who is a practicing physician

In March, state officials told lawmakers they had borrowed $3.4 billion to cover Medi-Cal liabilities in the current fiscal year and would need more.

Pharmacy costs and higher-than-expected caseload were also big factors in the cost overrun, as Newsom noted in his January budget

But costs have exploded. In Nov, the state estimated the cost to cover unauthorized immigrants was roughly $6.4 bil a year. The Newsom admin recently revised that to $9.5B. When he first took office, they estimated it would be $2.4B

In recent years, Newsom has gradually expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to all low-income Californians regardless of immigration status, giving some patients first-time access to crucial care, @vanesanchez_g reported

Much like other states, health care - especially the state’s Medicaid program Medi-Cal - is a huge chunk of state spending. It covers 15 million Californians, roughly a third of the population.

Newsom is expected to present his latest budget proposal tomorrow, which sets the stage for negotiations as the June 15 deadline to pass a state budget looms. I’ve talked to a lot of folks in Sacramento - no one expects the budget news to be good. So how did we get here?.

NEW from @ahartreports and me: @CAgovernor Gavin Newsom promised to fight for universal healthcare. He didn’t realize it would be so expensive.

RT @CalHealthline: “If they cut it too much, people will die or they’ll lose their freedoms.” says Tina Ewing-Wilson, a Republican voter wh….

“The hospitals, the health plans — we don’t always get along with those folks. On this, there’s not a lot of daylight.” @CMA_CEO on the strange bedfellows that have combined forces in CA to advocate against cuts to Medicaid

While advocates pressure Republicans to protect Medicaid in swing districts across the country, a quieter campaign is underfoot to sway GOP members in solidly red areas that stand to lose the most. My latest @KFFHealthNews @MyDesert

NEW from me - Medi-Cal is short billions of dollars and is relying on a $3.4 billion loan from the state to pay bills thru the end of the month. More loans — and cuts — could be coming.

RT @CalHealthline: During his presidential campaign, Trump distanced himself from the conservative governing plan after Democratic attacks.….

RT @KFFHealthNews: . @realDonaldTrump who? California marches ahead with implementation of new health laws on medical debt, detention cente….

RT @dillonliam: L.A. wildfires awful news for an already awful housing affordablilty situation. * Rents to balloon.* More questions about….

RT @KFFHealthNews: Health care costs may soar under incoming president @realDonaldTrump, says @Gavinnewsom. The CA governor says he'll figh….