Last Friday, Legislative leadership and the Governor released the final budget slated to be signed into law as the final Budget Act of 2021. As we inch our way towards recovery, LCHC advocated for this budget to reflect priorities that ensured a bold approach to public health that would achieve racial justice and health equity to address impacts of the pandemic as well as pre-existing health inequities present well before COVID-19.
We are pleased to see the inclusion of the Medi-Cal expansion to California seniors 50+, regardless of immigration status. We thank the legislative champions, the Governor, and most importantly, the advocates who have fought for this expansion for years. Because of our collective efforts, we are one step closer to Health4All.
We are also in full support of the Administration and Legislature’s agreement to commit $300 million annually for a 21st century public health system to address health disparities and preventable disease. We will work with the administration to ensure that this includes innovative approaches to addressing health inequities by implementing the California Health Equity and Racial Justice Fund.
We have a responsibility to continue advocating for innovative solutions that will address health equity in the State, in a way we have not yet seen. The Fund will further help address the disproportionate health outcomes we see time and time again in Latinx and underserved communities, by giving them critical funding to do the work that will lead to healthier, more just, health outcomes. We urge the Governor to sign this historic budget that will build towards a healthier, more just and equitable California.
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About LCHC:
Founded in 1992, the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is the only Latinx-led statewide policy and advocacy organization protecting and advancing Latinx health equity. We are a cross-sector coalition of community leaders, advocates, policy advisors, administrators and providers united by our common belief in protecting Latinx health and advancing health equity for all. Our work consists of community-centered programming, policy and advocacy development, and strategic communications.
