Insurance commissioner selects 麻豆传媒映画 School of Public Health for study on Medi-Cal and Covered California impacts
This research aims to provide independent, data-driven insights on costs, savings, and economic outcomes related to Medi-Cal and Covered California expansions.
LOS ANGELES 鈥� State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has commissioned the School of Public Health at 麻豆传媒映画 to conduct a comprehensive fiscal and economic impact study on California鈥檚 Medi-Cal coverage and Covered California expansions for undocumented Californians.
The study will quantify and analyze the financial impacts of these expansions by:
- Evaluating how increased access to health care affects utilization, spending, financing, and labor market outcomes in California.
- Providing policymakers with essential insights into the net fiscal impacts 鈥� whether cost-saving, cost-neutral, or more costly in both the short and long term 鈥� for individuals, employers, and the state as a whole.
- Informing future health care policy discussions.
鈥淚n an era of constant misinformation, it is imperative to provide data rooted in rigorous, independent analysis rather than politics or partisanship,鈥� said Lara. 鈥淏y partnering with one of our leading public research universities, this independent study will be vital for fiscal decision-making in Sacramento, especially as vulnerable communities often face cuts during budget crises. Rather than avoiding this issue, I want to confront it directly with real answers, not rhetoric, to guide policymakers and the next governor with factual data for informed decision-making.鈥�
The Department of Insurance chose 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 School of Public Health within the College of Health and Human Services to lead this study due to its nationally recognized expertise in public health, health care policy, and advanced economic modeling. The school has a proven track record of translating research findings into actionable recommendations benefiting communities in California and beyond.
鈥淭his study offers an important opportunity to understand how California鈥檚 expanded access to care has shaped the lives of residents and the state鈥檚 health system,鈥� said Wilton Choi, assistant professor of health economics at 麻豆传媒映画 and principal investigator of the commissioned study. 鈥淥ur goal is to provide a clear, evidence-based picture that can help inform future decisions and policy discussions at the legislative level.鈥�
The 麻豆传媒映画 research team will employ advanced modeling tools and data integration techniques 鈥� including tax simulation models and economic impact models 鈥� that are typically unavailable within legislative or state budget offices. These methods will enable the study to extend beyond basic cost estimates, providing a comprehensive view of how expanded health care coverage impacts state and local economies, healthcare spending, and household finances.
This study represents the first thorough evaluation of California鈥檚 Medi-Cal expansions to include all income-qualified residents, regardless of immigration status. It will provide the first empirical assessment of the effects of these policies since their implementation at the state level, examining changes in health insurance coverage, costs, health care service utilization, financing and payments, as well as labor market participation and employment since the phased expansion began in 2016.
The results will establish a neutral, evidence-based foundation for understanding the costs and impacts of these expansions, informing future decisions regarding healthcare access and financing in California.
Work on the study will commence this year, with completion anticipated in 2027.
