Some News out of Sacramento as of Yesterday

Summary of some of the major actions taken by the Budget Conference Committee as of 3:15 PM June 15, 2009 (the committee is still meeting):

Summary of some of the major actions taken by the Budget Conference Committee as of 3:15 PM June 15, 2009 (the committee is still meeting):

1. Healthy Families Program – REJECTED Governor’s proposal to eliminate this program by a vote of 6 to 4
2. Healthy Families Program – REJECTED the Governor’s proposal to reduce eligibility and APPROVED budget conference committee compromise to reduce program spending by $70 million in state general fund spending by vote of 10 to 0.
3. Medi-Cal Flexibility and Stabilization – APPROVED 10 to 0, with budget bill language, will shift savings (including reductions) to the state’s general fund as federal funding or savings come to the State Reduction is $1 billion in state general fund spending for the Medi-Cal program during the 2009-2010 State Budget year.
4. Regional Centers - $234 Million Additional Reduction – APPROVED the amount of the Governor’s proposed reduction with draft trailer bill language to be approved later by vote of 10 to 0.
5. Regional Centers - $100 Million Reduction – APPROVED by a vote of 10 to 0, the trailer bill language and the 15 proposals to implement this reduction in general fund spending for regional centers (the actual amount was previously approved as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget in February)
6. Long Term Care (Non-AB 1629 and AB 1629) Facilities – Freeze Reimbursement Rates – APPROVED Governor’s proposal 10 to 0.
7. Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal Optional Benefit and Funding for Adult Day Health Care Centers – REJECTED the Governor’s proposal by vote of 6 to 4 .
8. Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal Optional Benefit and Funding for Adult Day Health Centers - APPROVED a “conference compromise” which does not call for program elimination but includes targeting services, increased oversight of treatment authorization requests and is similar to the Governor’s initial proposal regarding Adult Day Health Care in his earlier May revision. Reduction totals $25 million in state general fund spending for this program.
9. Medi-Cal Service Restriction for “Newly Qualified Legal Immigrants” (less than 5 years and “PRUCOL individuals) – REJECTED the Governor’s proposal by vote of 6 to 4.
10. Special Needs Trust Recovery – Trailer Bill Language: REJECTED Governor’s proposal by vote of 10 to 0 and refer the trailer bill language the bill go through the policy process.
11. In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Trailer Bill Language for IHSS Plus – adopted draft language that still needs to be finalized by vote of 10 to 0.