The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) urges the Governor to invest in a truly equitable COVID-19 recovery by prioritizing resources in the hardest-hit Latinx communities to address health equity, including direct investments in community-based organizations at the frontlines.
Today, Governor Newson has put forth his revised proposal for the 2022-23 California State Budget that reflects a continued commitment to maintain and reinvigorate programs and benefits that are lifelines to many in California. The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is encouraged by the continued prioritization of these investments which will have a vastly positive impact on the lives of Latinx Californians. Additionally, the Governor is acknowledging the immediate burden of rising inflation costs on everyday commodities that disproportionately impact low-income Californians. While short-term relief is important, only equity and justice-centered long-term investments and policy solutions will protect and advance the health of Latinx and communities of color in our state.
As California experiences a yet again unprecedented surplus–97.5 billion–the state must secure a safety net that includes everyone, especially our most impacted communities. LCHC priority budgetary items such as Health4All (Medi-Cal expansion regardless of immigration status) and Food4All (expansion of the California Food Assistance Program) are policies that ensure equity for our communities. We are particularly pleased to see the Governor support the coverage of the remaining population of between the ages of 26-49.
LCHC is also pleased to see that the Governor supports food assistance to everyone regardless of immigration status by investing in Food4All. As discussed in the LCHC Latinx Nutrition Policy Brief, Latinx Californians are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity – undocumented Latinx people reported even higher levels of not having enough food. Food4All will help ensure more Californians have the food they need to live and thrive and we thank the Governor for his support.
We remain encouraged by these additional investments as we call on the Governor to ensure more equitable policies:
- Medi-Cal Access for Immigrants – We are pleased to see the Governor continue to include investments to expand MediCal to the remaining 26-49 year old population. California is one step closer to reaching universal healthcare as it becomes the first state in the nation to extend healthcare coverage to anyone income eligible in the state, regardless of immigration status. However, we are dismayed to see that the Governor did not include an earlier implementation date of this final expansion of Health4All in his May revision. Securing a January 2023 implementation date will ensure that Californians, regardless of immigration status, will not only receive the much-needed care more quickly, but it will also ensure “no age-outs,” for Californians already receiving care.
- Healthcare Workforce – We applaud the Governor’s continued support for Community Health Workers and Promotores. We must ensure that as we increase this incredibly skillful and culturally competent workforce, we must also ensure that there is appropriate outreach and education efforts that are in-language so that MediCal recipients may utilize this benefit. In addition, we are pleased to see there are additional investments to increase MediCal enrollment through $60 million ($30 million General Fund), over four years, to continue the Health Enrollment Navigators Project.
- Food Security for Immigrants – The May revision continues to include expansion of the California Food Assistance Program to expand food assistance to anyone in California, regardless of immigration status. Unfortunately, the Governor is choosing to expand this benefit through an age-based approach starting with 55 years. With an unprecedented $95.7 billion surplus, we know that California can afford to cover everyone regardless of immigration status, no exceptions no exclusions. Undocumented Latinx are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. We call on the Governor to secure food for all families, regardless of immigration status.
- Environmental Justice – We applaud the continued and additional investments to climate resiliency including the $22.5 billion over five years to support transformative climate investments in transportation, energy, wildfire, and drought resilience. However, we must ensure that policies such as Justice 40 be adopted in order to guarantee communities of color, including Latinx communities who are burdened by climate change and catastrophes, will benefit from these investments as they are often the first and the most disproportionately impacted by the impacts of climate change.
- Healthcare and Human Rights – We are encouraged that in a time when reproductive rights are under attack, California has doubled down on protecting the choice. We applaud the Governor for including the Reproductive Justice and Freedom Fund with a $15 million allocation to protect reproductive rights in California.
“Latinx communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 deaths and economic impacts including the rising costs of inflation. The Governor must do more to truly achieve an equitable recovery by investing in our frontline leaders and community-based organizations advancing public health through the Health Equity and Racial Justice Fund. We must address health inequities at the root or risk missing the mark.” said Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, Executive Director, LCHC
Expanding our safety net is essential to a more equitable California. However, we must be able to tackle the upstream factors that produce inequities in the first place. Health equity and racial justice must be included in all aspects of our government and institutions to ensure equitable and just outcomes for our most vulnerable communities. We cannot shy away from addressing these issues head on. This is why we are asking the Governor to invest in future-focused and community-based solutions that empower communities for equity and justice at the root.
- Health Equity and Racial Justice Fund: We remain disappointed to learn the Governor has still not included the Health Equity and Racial Justice Fund in the 2022 Budget. Our Fund seeks to directly resource community-based organizations, clinics and tribal organizations to (1) transform community conditions and institutional/government systems to promote health equity and racial justice and (2) reduce specific health and social disparities that impact communities of color and low income communities through innovative community-developed solutions. Over 200 community-based organizations across the state overwhelmingly support the Fund. Our community-based organizations have continued to show up to assist their own communities and their work complements our public health systems. We urge the Governor to keep his promise of committing at least $100 million in Health Equity funding. We must fund these organizations to continue to build trusted relationships between communities and public agencies for health equity and racial justice.
For questions or comments regarding our statement on Governor Newsom’s 2022-23 Revised Budget contact Policy Sr. Manager Mar Velez at mvelez@lchc.org.
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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.
