California Health Access Fund.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how much money will be in the fund, when it will start receiving funds, or how many people might lose health care coverage.

California Health Access Fund

This law creates a fund in California to help people keep their health care when they lose it due to federal changes.

What This Bill Does

• Creates the California Health Access Fund, which will be run by the State Department of Health Care Services.
• The fund will receive money from savings that occur because fewer people sign up for Medi-Cal due to new federal rules.
• Money in the fund can be used to help Californians who lose health care coverage because of these changes or other reasons continue receiving services.
• Health care providers will also get paid back through this fund for services they provide to those losing their coverage.

Who It Names or Affects

• California residents who might lose health care coverage due to federal law changes.
• The State Department of Health Care Services, which will manage the new fund.
• Health care providers in California who treat patients without insurance.

Terms To Know

Medi-Cal

A health care program for low-income people in California funded partly by federal Medicaid money.

federal law changes

New rules from the U.S. government that affect how people can get health care through programs like Medi-Cal.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify exactly when or how much money will go into the fund.
• It is unclear how many Californians will lose their health coverage due to federal changes and need help from this fund.

Official Summary Text

SB 987, as introduced, Weber Pierson.
California Health Access Fund.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions.
Existing federal law, enacted on July 4, 2025, sets forth various changes to different health care programs, including certain requirements for Medicaid eligibility with regard to work or community engagement reporting, redeterminations, and cost sharing, among other factors, for certain Medicaid populations pursuant to a specified implementation timeline.
This bill would create the California Health Access Fund, to be administered by the department. Under the bill, moneys in the fund would include deposits,
through any applicable transfers made by the Legislature, equal to the amount of any savings to the state resulting from decreased enrollment in the Medi-Cal program caused by enrollment barriers created by the above-described federal law.
Under the bill, moneys in the fund would, upon appropriation, be used to ensure that California residents losing health care coverage due to the impacts of the federal law or due to any other divestments from the health care system can continue to receive health care services and that health care providers are reimbursed for these services.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF