Funding & Budget in San Diego

San Diego County 2026-28 Recommended Budget Releases May 1 — First Full Budget Post-H.R. 1 Medi-Cal Cuts

SD County's 2026-28 Recommended Budget drops May 1, 2026 — the first budget cycle that will fully reflect H.R. 1 Medi-Cal cuts ($999M annual impact to the county). The FY25-26 budget currently stands at $8.63B. Public input closed March 22. FQHCs in San Diego (Family Health Centers, San Ysidro Health, Neighborhood Healthcare) should prepare to respond to county cuts that compound the existing Medi-Cal eligibility cliff (75,000 noncitizens in SD County lose coverage October 2026). Budget advocacy window opens once recommended budget is released.

Neighborhood Healthcare Secures $7.8M for New Lakeside Facility Despite Federal Funding Crisis

Neighborhood Healthcare, a San Diego County FQHC, secured funding for a $7.8M facility in Lakeside, acknowledging that community need has long outgrown the organization's capacity. This expansion comes amid the FQHC's public warnings that 'hundreds of FQHCs throughout the state will shut down in a year' due to H.R. 1 cuts. The new facility signals Neighborhood Healthcare's dual strategy: expanding access while sounding the alarm on federal defunding.

San Diego County Votes 4-1 to Overhaul Safety Net — Exploring Primary Care Clinics for Uninsured

San Diego County supervisors approved overhauling the County Medical Services program, which served fewer than 40 people last year despite 327,000 Medi-Cal recipients at risk from H.R. 1. Supervisor Montgomery Steppe proposed 'Safety Net Bridge' primary care clinics for anyone losing coverage. A half-cent sales tax ballot measure could generate $360M/year for safety-net programs. The county faces $200-300M/year in additional costs by 2028.

San Diego County Faces $300M Loss from Federal Healthcare & Food Cuts

San Diego County is absorbing $300M in federal funding losses — $1.1B from Medi-Cal cuts + $300M from CalFresh cuts statewide. Board Chair Lawson-Remer warned cuts 'show up when you call 911.' County workshops scheduled to plan response as hospital reimbursements decline and emergency departments face rising uninsured patient volume.