Here's What's New...

  Governor's Budget Cuts Call for Near-Elimination of California's Drug Medi-Cal Program

The Governor's revised budget for May proposes to eliminate virtually all of the California Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) program, excluding perinatal services. Approximately 55% of patients enrolled in medication-assisted (methadone) treatment use DMC to pay for their addiction treatment services. According to the California Opioid Maintenance Providers "with these cuts, it is reasonable to anticipate a complete dismantling of the network of 142 statewide clinics that provide methadone treatment to approximately 35,500 individuals."

The California Assembly hearing and testimony on the proposed budget cutbacks was May 19 and can be accessed at:
https://www.calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/1409 . Note: You'll have to slide your cursor over the video to get the timeline and fast forward to about one hour into the video to get past IHSS and find the hearing and public testimony on DMC.

On May 25 the Senate voted 10-2 to reject the Governor's proposal to eliminate Drug Medi-Cal. The Senate hearing can be accessed at: https://www.calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/1429

A news conference was held on the proposed Medical budget cutbacks on Wednesday May 26. Speakers included: Four-Star General and former U.S. National Drug Policy Director Barry McCaffrey, Dr. Jack McCarthy, and patients including war veterans who depend upon drug treatment. Many local, state and national news agencies, were in  attendance, including the Associated Press, NPR and Univision.

For further information on how the budget cuts would impact medication-assisted treatment <click here... > and the criminal justice system <click here... >

For ongoing coverage of proposed Medi-Cal budget cuts visit

www.savemedi-caldrugtreatment.org