Policy Pulse: Advocating for Medicaid
This page provides information about CenCal Health’s advocacy efforts to support Medicaid (i.e., Medi-Cal) and to ensure that our communities have reliable access to essential healthcare services.
Medicaid Policy Information
The following materials provide information on Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) policy, including recently published analyses.
October 2025: Answers to Your Questions about Changes to Medi-Cal – English
October 2025: Answers to Your Questions about Changes to Medi-Cal – Spanish
August 2025: Medi-Cal Policy FAQ: Impacts due to Federal Changes
Spring 2025: Medicaid FAQ: Common Questions on Policy Considerations
Recent HHS Guidance
- September 2025: National Immigration Law Center: Explainer – HHS Notice on Federal Public Benefits
- July 2025: HHS Bans Immigrants from Accessing Programs
Analyses from other Organizations
- August 2025: Overview of Major Impacts of HR 1 – Legislative Analyst’s Office
- May 2025: Analysis of Impacts to California from Proposed Congressional Bill – Governor Newsom
- May 2025: Medi-Cal Impacts in Governor’s May Budget Proposal – Legislative Analyst Office
- May 2025: Summary of Research on Impact of Loss of Coverage on Medicaid Recipients – NPR
- April 2025: Key Facts about Medi-Cal Beneficiaries – UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute
Fact Sheets
CenCal Health Fact Sheets
CenCal Health distributed fact sheets to our state and federal elected officials to emphasize the importance of Medicaid (i.e., Medi-Cal) for Central Coast communities.
- February 2025: CenCal Health Fact Sheets Supporting Local Advocacy Efforts
- April 2025: Medicaid Fact Sheet: ACA Expansion Population
Fact Sheets from other Organizations
- April 2025: Medicaid Impact – Local Health Plans of California
- April 2025: Medicaid Facts – Association of Community Affiliated Plans
- May 2025: Medicaid in California – KFF
- June 2025: Provider Taxes and State Directed Payments – Local Health Plans of California
CenCal Health Advocacy News
- February 2025: Medicaid Supports Families and the Economy – Santa Barbara Independent
- April 2025: CenCal Health Hospital Provider Tax Letter to Congress
- June 2025: CenCal Health Advocates to Protect Healthcare Access – Noozhawk
- July 2025: HR 1 impact to Central Coast – KCBX Public Radio
Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit
How to Advocate for Medicaid
Call Your Representative
- Script to Call your Representative (English)
- Guion para comunicarse con la oficina de su legislador (Español)
Mail a Letter to Congress
Send a Postcard to Congress
Central Coast Health Coalition
Purpose: Launched in March 2025, the Central Coast Coalition is dedicated to uniting healthcare, business, and community partners across the Central Coast to collaboratively advocate for Medicaid (i.e., Medi-Cal). By leveraging our combined strengths, we aim to share important information and implement initiatives that protect Medicaid and preserve reliable healthcare access for our communities.
Priorities:
- Member Support: Medicaid (i.e., Medi-Cal) Eligibility and Funding
- Program Continuation: CalAIM Continuation
- Provider Funding (e.g., Taxes, Prop 35)
Advocacy Letters
- April 2025: Coalition Letter to Congress
- June 2025: Coalition Letter to Congress
- July 2025: Coalition Letter to House Leadership
More information about the Central Coast Coalition is available on CenCal Health’s CalAIM Community Steering Committee pages for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
More about CalAIM
- July 2025: CalAIM Concept Paper – DHCS
Advocacy from Other Organizations
- February 2025: Coalition of State Medical Associations Letter
- March 2025: New Democratic Coalition Letter
- March 2025: Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Value of Medicaid
- March 2025: California Association of Health Plans Letter
- March 2025: First Focus Campaign for Children’s Health Insurance Program Letter
- April 2025: Lompoc Valley Medical Center Letter
- April 2025: Primary Care Collaborative Letter to Congress
- May 2025: Local Health Plans of California Letter to House Committee on Energy & Commerce
- June 2025: Local Health Plans of California Letter to Senate Party Leaders
- June 2025: California Association of Health Plans Letter to Congress
- June 2025: United Way Op-Ed in New Times