GOP Senate bill would slash Medi-Cal by $30 billion by 2027, more than House’s $24 billion cut

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement in reaction to California’s estimate of the effect of the Senate Republican health care plan’s changes to Medicaid, which end the longstanding federal-state partnership in paying for the program:

“An analysis issued today by California’s Health and Human Services Agency indicates how dire the Senate Republican health care bill would be for California. It’s a backbreaker that would jeopardize care for our most vulnerable citizens and our state’s financial future.

“The Senate bill would require the state to pay $30 billion more per year to Medi-Cal by 2027. That’s $6 billion more than the House bill, and that $30 billion in additional money would grow even larger further down the road.

“The reality is that the state couldn’t cover a $30 billion shortfall. If this bill passes, California will be faced with impossible choices. Do we kick millions off of Medi-Cal? Do we reduce services? Do we divert money from other priorities like education? The bottom line is that coverage or access to care for one in three Californians—14 million people—would be threatened.”