What’s happening on health care in California in 2025?
The mounting cost of providing heath care to millions of Californians is shaping up to be a top issue for state lawmakers in 2025. The threat of deep federal cuts to the state’s Medi-Cal program could force lawmakers to make tough decisions about benefits and eligibility for more than 15 million enrollees and payments to the doctors who see them.
Lawmakers are also grappling with emerging artificial intelligence issues, the high cost of pharmaceuticals and the state’s continuing mental health crisis. They’ll be watching to see whether Gov. Gavin Newsom makes good on his promise to manufacture low-cost insulin for Californians and whether Proposition 1, narrowly approved by voters last March, improves access to mental health treatment.
CalMatters health team:
- Editor: Adam Ashton, [email protected]
- Health Reporter Kristen Hwang, [email protected]
- Health Reporter Ana Ibarra, [email protected]
- Mental Health Reporter Jocelyn Wiener, [email protected]
Quick Facts
- Budget: Typically, about a third of the state’s budget is spent on health care
- Medi-Cal: More than a third of the population — about 15 million residents — are on Medi-Cal, the insurance program for low income people.
- Mental Health: $28 billion has been proposed due to provider shortages and increased demand.
- Insurance: California is 1 of 5 states that penalizes residents for not having health insurance.
Health Care Bills
In Focus
Here is a list of all of the health care bills considered this session with the top bills of 2024 selected by CalMatters.
SB 682
Environmental health: product safety: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
In Progress Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality
Environmental health: product safety: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality
Menopause.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Business and Professions
Prescription drug pricing.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Health
SB 418
Health care coverage: prescription hormone therapy and nondiscrimination.
In Progress Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Health
Health care coverage: prescription hormone therapy and nondiscrimination.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Health
SB 363
Health care coverage: independent medical review.
In Progress Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Health
Health care coverage: independent medical review.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Health
Language access.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Health
Key Players
Legislative Leaders
These are the key legislative leaders on health care as selected by CalMatters.
Caroline Menjivar
District 20, Van Nuys
Suzette Martinez Valladares
District 23, Lancaster
Scott Wiener
District 11, San Francisco
Phillip Chen
District 59, Brea
Shannon Grove
District 12, Bakersfield
Mia Bonta
District 18, Oakland
Non-Legislator leaders
These are the most active players on health care issues based on their testimony in hearings or recorded positions on bills.
Jedd Hampton, Ca. Assn. of Health Plans
Brandon Marchy, Ca. Medical Assn.
Michele Perrault, Ca. Dept of Finance
Alex Hamilton, League of Cities, Fire Chiefs
Steffanie Watkins, Assn. of California Life and Health Insurance Cos.
National Assn. of Social Workers
