blog post In First-in-Nation State Law, All Low-Income Residents Qualify for Medi-Cal By Paulette Cha, Patricia Malagon Jan 3, 2024 On January 1, California broadened Medi-Cal eligibility to include undocumented immigrants regardless of age, an expansion funded almost entirely with state dollars. What could this new policy mean for health care access in our state?
Report Health Conditions and Health Care among California’s Undocumented Immigrants By Paulette Cha, John Heintzman, Patricia Malagon Oct 25, 2023 In January 2024, Medi-Cal will expand to all low-income Californians, regardless of age or immigration status. Understanding chronic conditions among undocumented patients and the health services they tend to use can help the state prepare to meet the needs of new applicants.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Health Conditions and Health Care among California’s Undocumented Immigrants By Paulette Cha, John Heintzman, Patricia Malagon, Stephanie Barton Oct 25, 2023 Knowing how undocumented patients use health care can help California plan for future care and costs as Medi-Cal expands to all low-income residents. Visits to community clinics indicate that undocumented patients have similar chronic diseases to current Medi-Cal patients and get preventive services such as screenings and shots at similar or better rates.
blog post Telehealth Usage among Low-income and Undocumented Californians By Shalini Mustala, Paulette Cha, Patricia Malagon Oct 17, 2023 A variety of changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have expanded telehealth use among low-income and undocumented Californians. The experience of patients in Los Angeles County—home to the state's largest immigrant population and a significant share of its undocumented residents—sheds light on the prospects for telehealth to improve health care access for undocumented immigrants in our state.
Fact Sheet Public Health Insurance in California By Shalini Mustala, Paulette Cha Oct 11, 2023 More than half of Californians are covered by public health insurance—mainly Medi-Cal, which covers low-income residents, and Medicare, which covers most adults aged 65 and older. The state is preparing to expand Medi-Cal to all low-income Californians, regardless of age or immigration status.
Fact Sheet California’s Health Care Safety Net By Shannon McConville, Shalini Mustala May 26, 2023 Millions of low-income Californians rely on the health care safety net. More than 15 million are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program; about 3 million are uninsured. Core providers—including county hospitals, health clinics, and emergency departments—treat patients regardless of their ability to pay or their immigration status.
blog post Video: Pandemic Changes to Medi-Cal and Implications for Immigrant Farmworkers By Stephanie Barton Apr 5, 2023 PPIC researcher Paulette Cha discusses the impact on immigrant farmworkers of Medi-Cal changes made during the COVID-19 public health emergency as well as upcoming Medi-Cal expansions.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Impact of Health Insurance on Poverty in California By Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Shannon McConville, Mary Severance Mar 27, 2023 The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Californians gain health insurance over the past decade. In addition to improving access to care, the ACA has enhanced financial well-being. This work focuses on the significant contribution of publicly funded health coverage—particularly Medi-Cal—to family resources across the state.
Report The Impact of Health Insurance on Poverty in California By Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Shannon McConville Mar 27, 2023 The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Californians gain health insurance over the past decade. In addition to improving access to care, the ACA has increased financial well-being. This analysis focuses on the significant contribution of publicly funded health coverage—particularly Medi-Cal—to family resources across the state.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Pandemic Changes to Medi-Cal and Implications for California’s Immigrant Farmworkers By Paulette Cha Mar 22, 2023 Pandemic changes to Medi-Cal made it easier for low-income Californians to stay enrolled and to access expanded services—improvements to care that may have helped immigrant farmworkers. The upcoming end of the public health emergency will reverse some of these changes, as advocates push to keep others permanent.
