California's Coming $20 Billion Healthcare Emergency By: Thomas R. McMorrow December 21, 2016 – Los Angeles Times California is facing a $20 billion healthcare emergency. That’s how much the state stands to lose in annual federal spending if Republicans repeal the Affordable Care Act. Putting this in perspective, $20 billion represents nearly 18% of all state general fund spending, projected at $113 billion this year. That amount is also roughly what the state already pays from its general fund for Medi-Cal costs. Even a nation-state like California cannot absorb an 18% budget shortfall without severely damaging public health and its economy. Repeal presents a greater risk to California than any other state, not only because of its large population, but also because the state fully embraced the promise of health insurance reform. Read the article here.
