California Health Care Foundation

The vast majority of care community clinics provide is primary care — but Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) also expand access to dental, mental health, vision, and other services that meet Californians' evolving health needs. Between 2020 and 2024: 👉 Vision patients more than doubled (+104%) 👉 Enabling services, which includes case management, patient education, eligibility assistance, and interpretation, increased by nearly 25% 👉 Mental health patients increased 23.8% These trends highlight the growing role community clinics play in delivering comprehensive care to help patients stay healthy. Explore more data in the 2026 California's Community Clinics Almanac: https://lnkd.in/gUy9NF2K

California made history in 2024 as the first state to extend full-scope Medi-Cal to all income-eligible adults regardless of immigration status. But new federal and state policy changes are putting that access to health care at risk. We partnered with Culture IQ Group to interview undocumented Californians currently enrolled in Medi-Cal to better understand their experiences navigating the current system and the impact health coverage has had on their lives. These interviews provide clear lessons for policymakers as well as health care providers serving these communities. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g5CDa2Vu

As pandemic-era auto-renewal policies end, managed health plans are racing to reach members before coverage lapses. At Kern Family Health Care, that meant 270,000 Medi-Cal enrollees suddenly needed to complete renewal paperwork. To meet the demand, the health plan started testing an AI voice agent named Angelica. Careforce created Angelica to call, text, and email members in their preferred language (29 languages supported), explain what's needed to renew, and answer questions along the way. When she can't help, she hands off to a human staff member. The health plan renewed 96% of members in the first year, up from 38% before using the tool. This AI has proven helpful in a number of other ways that are improving patient engagement. Learn more about this case study and why the CHCF Innovation Fund has chosen to invest in this technology: https://lnkd.in/gRUwrkvJ #HealthTech #AIinHealthcare

Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders recently finalized the 2026-27 state budget, prioritizing fiscal discipline and delivering California’s first comprehensive response to federal policy changes under #HR1, which imposed substantial budget cuts on Medi-Cal. By relying on short-term delays and temporary funding structures, this budget leaves major, long-term structural challenges to California’s next governor. Our state health policy team outlines five pressing questions that remain as the new administration takes over next year: https://lnkd.in/gNdiWRDw

Nearly 1 in every 5 dollars in the U.S. economy is spent on health care. In 2024 (the latest data available), national health spending reached $5.3 trillion — up from $4.9 trillion the year before — working out to $15,474 for every person in the country, compared to $14,580 in 2023. Health spending now claims 18.0% of the nation's economy, up from 17.7% just one year earlier. See more stats in our 2026 National Health Spending Almanac: https://vist.ly/5bzbj

Starting January 1, #HR1 will force most Medi-Cal recipients to prove 80 hours/month of work, school, or volunteering to keep their health care coverage. For the farmworkers who help make California the nation's top agricultural producer, that's a tough ask: Harvest season might mean 80+ hour weeks, but the off-season often means informal, cash-based work in construction or landscaping. The addition of twice-a-year eligibility checks and the constant moves that come with seasonal agricultural work, advocates warn thousands of eligible workers and their families could lose coverage simply from falling behind on paperwork. A closer look at how a policy built around "traditional" employment can leave California's agricultural workforce behind: https://vist.ly/5bw4g

We’re joining Families USA and partners for a Health Care Affordability Week of Action to sound the alarm on high health costs. 👉 Since 2022, the average premium for family coverage has risen 24% in California, almost twice the rate of inflation and wage growth. 👉 2 out of 3 Californians worry about affording an unexpected medical bill, surpassing concerns about paying for rent or groceries. 👉 6 in 10 Californians now delay or skip care due to cost. 👉 25% of every health care dollar in California doesn't help patients get better care or become healthier. Learn more about health care affordability in California: https://lnkd.in/grw_kGfC #25PercentProblem #LowerHealthCareCostsNow

Los Angeles County made significant progress expanding health coverage over the last several years. Between 2019 and 2023, the uninsured rate fell from 9.9% to 7.6%. Nearly all of that improvement was driven by Medi-Cal, which grew from covering 37.8% of residents to 46.1% during the same period. Now, that progress faces new challenges as #HR1 reshapes the health care landscape in LA and across the state. 📊 Explore more data and trends in the 2026 Los Angeles Regional Market Report: https://lnkd.in/gPekg9mb 📆 Register for an August 13 webinar to hear local leaders discuss what this means on the ground: https://lnkd.in/gP7s9JmG

California's health care system depends on immigrants more than almost every state in the nation. More than one in three of our health care workers were born outside the United States. Recent federal immigration policy changes could make it harder for many of these professionals to train and work in the United States, creating new challenges for the health care workforce and the patients who depend on it. Recent federal actions have paused visas, established a new $100,000 H-1B fee, and created policies that put safety-net employers at a disadvantage, among other impacts. Our new analysis examines: ➡ Why California relies so heavily on immigrant health workers. ➡ How recent federal policy changes could affect recruitment and retention. ➡ Why safety-net providers and underserved communities face the greatest risks. Read the full analysis: https://vist.ly/5bgrf

Our latest report explores how today's policy and immigration environment are shaping the experiences of undocumented Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal. Through interviews, we found how fear, confusion, and changing policies can affect people's ability to access care, even when coverage is available. The findings point to practical ways to support enrollment and access, including clear communication, trusted community partners, and culturally responsive outreach. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g5CDa2Vu