Siskiyou officials warn Medi‑Cal, CalFresh changes will raise workload and costs

Siskiyou County social‑services leaders on Tuesday told the Board of Supervisors that anticipated federal and state changes to Medi‑Cal and CalFresh will increase staff workload, require more frequent eligibility checks and carry material fiscal impacts for the county.

Deputy Director Kirk Hendricks presented quarterly and monthly caseload statistics and program costs, reporting that CalWORKs averaged 441 cases (about 1,110 people) with a monthly cost of $457,306; CalFresh averaged 5,581 cases (9,158 people) at roughly $1,600,000 per month; and Medi‑Cal accounted for 9,078 cases and 16,289 people in the county’s reporting period. Hendricks also reported monthly averages for new approvals (CalWORKs 28/month, CalFresh 284/month, Medi‑Cal 150/month) and fraud‑referral counts for the quarter (e.g., 79 ongoing CalFresh referrals, 44 ongoing CalWORKs referrals). He said there were no prosecutions or convictions recorded for the quarter.

"We have it split up by quarterly case count and the monthly average," Hendricks said when presenting the figures.

County staff emphasized that much remains unsettled and that implementation guidance from state and federal agencies is still forthcoming. Corey Watson, deputy director of social services, described a number of policy changes with staggered effective dates: asset checks for certain applicants will return Jan. 1, 2026 (the presentation listed a $130,000 asset allowance for a single member and $65,000 additional allowance per household member as key thresholds); several immigration‑related eligibility classifications will shift Oct. 1, 2026; and some adults may face work or volunteer requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Watson said another change will shorten retroactive Medi‑Cal coverage from 90 to 60 days for some applicants beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and that some adults could face modest monthly premiums starting July 1, 2027. "The information presented is very fluid," Watson told supervisors, adding that the office will update the board as guidance is clarified.

Trish Barbieri, director of the social‑services division, described the practical consequences for county operations. "Fraud has many different faces," she said, explaining county options including administrative disqualification hearings and prosecution through the district attorney when appropriate. Barbieri said the policy and paperwork changes will increase verification work and predicted that at least eight additional eligibility workers would be needed "at minimum" to handle the anticipated workload if current proposals move forward.

On CalFresh, staff flagged the possible reinstatement of able‑bodied‑adults‑without‑dependents (ABOD) participation requirements as early as Nov. 1, 2025, and said the county must prepare plans for about 3,013 individuals who could be affected. Watson told the board that a reduction in federal administrative matching starting in federal fiscal year 2027 will increase the county’s share of administrative costs; preliminary county estimates put that increase at roughly $1,300,000.

Board members asked for follow‑up analysis on how many local residents would be affected and for trend data comparing the county to peer counties. County staff said they will return with more detailed fiscal estimates and requests for additional positions if the changes are finalized.