Big changes are looming for Contra Costa residents as the county grapples with anticipated reductions in Medi-Cal coverage and a significant cut to healthcare funding. According to officials, the double whammy of federal and state policy shifts could leave up to 93,000 residents without coverage by 2029. “These changes mean fewer people covered and fewer dollars coming into the system at the same time,” Candace Andersen, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, said in a county meeting.
Triggered by the new federal requirements under the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” and compounded by state adjustments to Medi-Cal eligibility and reimbursement rules, the county projects an alarming $300 million shortfall in state and federal funds over the next few years. Contra Costa Health (CCH) is set to take a hit from both dwindling Medi-Cal enrollment and trimmed supplemental funding critical for public hospitals. To put it simply, the county’s healthcare fabric is facing a potential unraveling that could leave vulnerable populations exposed, and services strained.
The run-down of the dire situation was presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, stressing that the projected impacts are out of the county’s hands, being driven exclusively by decisions at higher levels of government. This mix of federal ambiguity and state-level policy evolution means that local administrators are waiting in an uncomfortable limbo, piecing together a game plan for a future with moving targets. The county has promised to communicate further updates as it receives federal and state guidance and continues its planning endeavors, as mentioned in their recent announcement…