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Clinics, unions and patients urge Sacramento: protect public hospitals, keep Medi‑Cal enrollment systems and mobile crisis funding
Summary
More than 50 public commenters — clinic CEOs, nonprofit leaders, union representatives, clinicians and residents — told the FGOC on March 20 that cuts to Medi‑Cal, CalFresh and behavioral‑health funding would immediately harm vulnerable residents and urged state backfills, preservation of eligibility automation and keeping mobile crisis mandatory.
During a lengthy public comment period at the March 20 special meeting, more than 50 advocates, providers, clinicians, union members and residents described concrete harms already visible or anticipated if state and federal cuts proceed.
Clinic and community‑health leaders supplied local estimates of revenue loss tied to enrollment declines and reimbursement changes, warned that loss of 330 grants and prospective payment systems (PPS) would force clinics to cut services, and urged the legislature to fund eligibility systems and staff so clients are not lost during renewals. "If CalSAUCE goes away, we go back to pen and pencil," Dolores Alvarado said, arguing that automation and data systems are essential.
Speakers described the human consequences: an IHSS recipient said program cuts would produce homelessness and loss of care; behavioral‑health organizations warned that making mobile crisis optional or shifting its costs to counties would return many crises to law enforcement and increase hospitalizations; a pediatric cardiologist urged prioritizing children’s care.
Unions and labor representatives emphasized the county workforce and the role of Measure A but urged state revenue measures to avoid deeper cuts. Several speakers called for rapid state backfills and urged legislators to make these issues a top budget priority.
The public comment record supplied the committee with multiple concrete examples and local estimates for staff follow up; the meeting closed after public comment and the chair said staff will incorporate testimony into budget follow‑up.
