LA County $48.8B Budget Released — $2.1B Unmet Needs, 700K Medi-Cal Members at Risk from Work Requirements by 2028
LA County's April 14 recommended budget avoids broad cuts for now but acknowledges $2.1B in unmet needs. The DHS ($6.5B budget, ~70% federal/state) faces greatest exposure. Medi-Cal work requirements beginning January 2027 could eliminate coverage for 700,000+ LA residents by FY2027-28, with only $63.2M in new local funding as a buffer. The real reckoning is expected at the May Revision — CCALAC explicitly warns the Governor is 'kicking the can.'
Key takeaways
- 700,000 LA residents risk losing Medi-Cal under work requirements by 2028 — LA FQHCs should begin uninsured patient volume contingency planning now
- May Revision (typically mid-May) is the critical decision point — CCALAC warns that real cuts will be announced then, not in the January budget
Primary source
LA CountyFQHC Talent. (2026, April 14). LA County $48.8B Budget Released — $2.1B Unmet Needs, 700K Medi-Cal Members at Risk from Work Requirements by 2028. Primary source: LA County. Retrieved April 28, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/la-county-2026-27-budget-48b-unmet-needs
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