California has become the first state in the country to expand the Medi-Cal assistance program to low-income individuals age 50 and older, regardless of their immigration status.
This follows Governor Gavin Newsom's signing into law this morning of a bill that cements California's path to universal health care coverage.
Thus, the health care bill, AB 133, will focus on more equitable and prevention-focused health care through expanded initiatives that support California's youth and people with serious behavioral problems, including those experiencing homelessness.
It also extends Medi-Cal eligibility for postpartum individuals; supports the "telehealth" program; and advances the statewide CalAIM initiative. This Department of Health Care Services initiative is multi-year, from 2022 to 2027, and aims to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of Californians by implementing a comprehensive service delivery system.
"We are investing California's historic surplus to bring about the transformative changes we have long dreamed of, including this historic expansion of Medi-Cal to ensure that thousands of older undocumented Californians, many of whom have been serving on the front lines of the pandemic, can access critical health care services," Newsom said.
According to AB 133, approximately 235,000 Californians age 50 and older are eligible for Medi-Cal, including preventive services, long-term care and in-home supportive services.
In 2019, California became the first state to extend the coverage Medi-Cal to all eligible undocumented young adults up to age 26. With today's expansion, the state has the most inclusive health coverage for low-income people in the country.
AB 133 also extends the Medi-Cal postpartum care period from 60 days to 12 months without requiring a mental health diagnosis, even for eligible undocumented Californians.
Battle against COVID-19 continues
Following the bill signing in Fresno, Newsom highlighted the state's multi-pronged strategy to reach communities with low vaccination rates. The first-in-the-nation measures announced yesterday will require all state workers, health care workers and those in high-risk settings to show proof of full vaccination or get tested at least once a week.
In light of this, he encouraged local governments and businesses to adopt similar measures amid the growing threat of the Delta variant.
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