{
  "id": 14916714,
  "title": "Next Governor To Face Thorny Choices After California’s Rapid Medicaid Expansion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/next-governor-to-face-thorny-choices-after-californias-rapid-medicaid",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-16T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KFF Health News",
    "slug": "kff-health-news",
    "url": "https://kffhealthnews.org/elections/medicaid-cuts-medi-cal-insurance-immigrants-hilton-becerra-california-governor/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "California's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, faces an uncertain future as the state grapples with the implications of federal budget cuts and the need to modernize its healthcare safety net. In March 2025, California borrowed $4.4 billion to keep the program afloat after running out of Medicaid funds to pay for services. This was the latest in a series of short-term loans taken by the state to support Medi-Cal, which has expanded significantly over the years to cover more low-income residents and offer additional benefits.\n\nThe looming federal budget cuts, estimated at over $900 billion over a decade, pose a significant threat to the program's sustainability. California, which spends more on Medicaid than New York and Texas combined, must now consider the limits of its generosity and explore ways to modernize the program. Former top health official Mark Ghaly, who now co-chairs the Future of Medi-Cal Commission, has called for a review of how to serve more people while ensuring the program's financial viability.\n\nWith the \"One Big Beautiful Bill Act\" set to reduce federal Medicaid spending, millions of Americans could lose health insurance, particularly due to new work requirements. Some state lawmakers and consumer advocates argue that these federal cuts, coupled with rising healthcare costs, present an opportunity for the next governor to overhaul Medi-Cal. However, neither of the candidates running for governor in the November election has proposed substantial solutions to address the challenges facing the program.",
  "summary": "Medi-Cal, the nation’s largest Medicaid program, was in trouble even before the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Rapid expansion, spiraling costs, and billions in federal funding cuts will mean tough challenges for California’s next governor. On the campaign trail, the two men running for the job have offered few answers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}