{"id":302216,"date":"2025-06-19T22:07:38","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T22:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/uncategorized\/california-budget-vote-takes-california-backward-on-health-equity\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T22:07:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T22:07:38","slug":"california-budget-vote-takes-california-backward-on-health-equity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/som2nypost.com\/?p=302216","title":{"rendered":"California Budget Vote Takes California Backward on Health Equity"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SACRAMENTO, CA<\/strong> \u2013 The co-chairs of the Health4All Coalition,<\/a> which leads in the efforts to remove barriers to health care coverage for ALL Californians based on immigration status, issued the below statements today following the State Legislature\u2019s vote to pass a budget that includes cuts to Medi-Cal only for immigrants \u2013 both those who are undocumented and legally present. This move will prevent access to essential health care and cut holes in vulnerable communities, undermining years of progress toward health equity and universal coverage. Advocates urged lawmakers to reject proposed cuts that would block immigrant Californians from accessing full-scope Medi-Cal and to instead pursue sustainable revenue options to strengthen the program for all low-income Californians.<\/p>\n

Senator Durazo and Assemblymember Arambula, who have long been #Health4All champions, both voted no on the legislative budget based on its discrimination of undocumented immigrants. Senator Menjivar, who earlier this week lost her post on the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services after she declared she will not support this budget and its cuts to our immigrant communities, stayed off the final vote.<\/p>\n

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\u201cToday\u2019s vote takes California one step further down a path that bakes discrimination into our health care system. After more than a decade of work to remove barriers to health care based on immigration status, this vote sends us back to a time when the only health care option for immigrants living in California was to go to the emergency room \u2013 or die from preventable illnesses,\u201d said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Executive Director of Health Access California.<\/strong> \u201cDespite what we\u2019ve heard from our state leaders, this was not the only option. The legislature has an obligation to raise revenues that guarantee the long-term sustainability of our Medi-Cal program for all low-income Californians. In a time when our immigrant families are facing terror and violence at the hands of our federal government, California leaders must stand up and make the right choices to ensure our health care system remains strong and inclusive of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Legislature\u2019s vote on the budget today marks a step backwards in our promise to provide health care for all,\u201d said Masih Fouladi, Executive Director of the California Immigrant Policy Center.<\/strong> \u201cIt is extremely disappointing that the legislative leadership decided to endorse the governor\u2019s proposal to cut Medi-Cal and attempt to balance the budget on the backs of those who can afford it the least. These discriminatory cuts are no way to respond to concerns about the health and safety of communities that power our economy and contribute billions in taxes to our state. Instead, the state should look for ways to raise revenue and protect our health care system. In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue to advocate to ensure that California restores Medi-Cal for All, regardless of people\u2019s immigration status.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Legislative budget includes the following cuts:<\/p>\n