Supervisor Chan urges state to restore Medi-Cal acupuncture benefit and asks Planning to publish rezoning modeling tools

Supervisor Connie Chan on June 3 introduced two items: a resolution urging state leaders to restore acupuncture as an optional Medi-Cal benefit for adults, and a letter of inquiry to the Planning Department seeking a publicly accessible modeling tool to accompany the city—s housing element rezoning proposal.

On acupuncture Chan said the benefit is an important non-pharmacological treatment used by many Californians, and she urged the governor and the state Senate budget chair to commit to fully restoring the optional adult acupuncture benefit in Medi-Cal as part of the state budget. Chan noted California has a large share of the nation—s licensed acupuncturists and called acupuncture a preventive, noninvasive option for pain management and other conditions. The resolution was submitted for consideration and solicited early cosponsors.

Separately, Chan said the city will soon be asked to vote on a rezoning proposal that adds zoning capacity to meet regional housing needs. She requested the Planning Department provide a timeline and details for a modeling tool requested at the April 10 Planning Commission hearing. The tool would, according to Chan—s remarks, allow the public and decision makers to explore three-dimensional modeling for affected parcels and to analyze impacts on indicators such as entitled projects, rent-controlled inventory, historic buildings, affordable housing opportunity sites, development potential, priority equity geographies and legacy small businesses.

What happens next Both items are at the introduction stage. The acupuncture resolution is a request to the state delegation and the Planning inquiry asks staff for an implementation timeline and public access to modeling tools to aid public engagement and decision making on the housing element rezoning program.