Last week, California’s Secretary of State officially designated Proposition (Prop) 35 as the title for the “Protect Our Health Care” initiative, a CHA-sponsored ballot measure to strengthen Medi-Cal.
The measure will be voted on in November and if successful will make permanent an existing fee on managed care organizations (MCOs) that enables the state to draw on federal matching funds to improve Medi-Cal.
Passage would cement a historic investment in health care for millions of Californians by creating a stable stream of resources for Medi-Cal, bringing as much as $5 billion annually initially and as much as $11 billion annually over time to doctors, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, planned parenthood clinics, and others who provide care for Medi-Cal patients. This is a rare opportunity to do the right thing for millions of Californians — creating greater predictability and stability of health care for those who rely on Medi-Cal for their services.
From Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President & CEO, and co-chair of the YES on 35 campaign: “Prop 35 is critically important to protect care for more than 15 million vulnerable Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for access to health care, as well as to address the health care crisis facing all Californians.”
In the first year, as much as $1.4 billion of the annual revenue would be used to bolster hospital care (when the initiative fully takes effect in 2027, that number would grow to an estimated $2.6 billion), including:
- Emergency department services
- Outpatient services
- Public hospitals
- Graduate medical education
While Prop 35 has broad support — it will help address California’s most urgent health care priorities without raising taxes on individuals — there will undoubtedly be those who oppose this effort. And in the current fractious political environment, anything can happen.
CHA is a key leader and funder on your behalf of this coalition effort, but more may be needed to help Prop 35 get over the finish line in November. Nothing can be left to chance when so much is on the line.
For more information, or to learn how you can lend support right now to this historic initiative, join the YES on 35 coalition.
