California’s Medicaid program
California has been the focus of ongoing investigations into Medicare and Medicaid fraud, with authorities charging 21 individuals for schemes involving stolen identities and fraudulent billing for hospice services. Despite prior efforts, fraud continues to be a significant issue, prompting federal and state agencies to intensify their crackdown efforts.
The billionaire tax measure proposed by SEIU Healthcare Workers West has collected signatures to go before voters. Projections warn of job losses and billions in revenue declines if approved, while opponents tie the measure to migration of ultra-wealthy residents.
California lawmakers are finalizing a $356 billion state budget with Gov. Newsom. A tax package is advancing, including a health care provider tax and a software sales tax, while critics warn of higher costs for families and businesses. The package aims to balance revenue gaps amid federal funding shifts.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has released a nearly $352 billion budget debt-free for the coming fiscal year, highlighting investments in child nutrition, healthcare access, and renewable energy while resisting broader tax hikes. The plan relies on reforms to healthcare providers, a sales tax on software and limits on corporate tax breaks, and it aims to shield low‑income residents from federal cuts as the state contends with national political pressures.